title: Hotter than Hell (album)

text: Musically, "Hotter than Hell" is darker than the band's first album. This is partly due to the murkier production values, but also the lyrical content of some of the songs. "Goin' Blind", which details a doomed romance between a 93-year-old and an underage girl, was a song written by Simmons and Stephen Coronel during their days with Wicked Lester. The original title was "Little Lady", and the song's original second verse lyric, revived by Simmons for their MTV Unplugged appearance, suggests that the song's narrator is a sea captain addressing a mermaid.


title: Hotter than Hell (album)

text: "Hotter than Hell" featured many more overdubs than the first album. While Kerner and Wise wanted to produce a record that captured Kiss as a live act, they decided to take advantage of the experience the band had gained as recording artists.


title: Hotter than Hell (album)

text: In an interview with Songfacts' Greg Prato in 2013, Richie Wise shouldered the blame for the album's sub-par sonics. "For whatever reason, moving to California, my head wasn't in the right place. It was more of a chore than it was out of love, that album. And my heart and soul didn't get there. I don't remember having any breathing time. It was just too much exhale. It wasn't enough [to] inhale/exhale. Not enough give and take. I was going through a bunch of changes at that time. I moved from New York to California. I'd never moved like that in my life, made a big move. It was just a big time for me, and "Hotter than Hell" took a back seat. And I apologize for that."


title: Hotter than Hell (album)

text: The album is well known for its striking cover designed by John Van Hamersveld. The front featured Japanese manga-influenced artwork, and the back cover showed individual band shots taken by Norman Seeff at a wild party and a composite of all four band members' makeup designs.


title: Hotter than Hell (album)

text: The Japanese character on the bottom of the album cover (力) is "chikara", which means "power". It would later be used on various forms of Kiss material during the 1970s and 1980s, most prominently on Eric Carr's drum kit. The Japanese characters on the top-right corner of the album cover (地獄 の さけび) are "Jigoku no Sakebi", which means "hell's shout" or "the shout of hell". The Japanese characters used for Frehley's name are transliterated incorrectly. The characters are エイス フューリ ("eisu fyūri"), a transliteration for "Ace Fury". The characters should have been エースフレーリー ("ēsu furērī").


title: Hotter than Hell (album)

text: Despite the intense touring schedule Kiss maintained in 1974, "Hotter than Hell" failed to outperform the band's first album and fared considerably worse. This was due partly to the fact that Casablanca's distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records had ended. The publicity push behind the album was not nearly as strong as it had been for the debut album. One notable exception was a television commercial aired to promote the album. The only single released from the album, "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll", was distributed in low numbers and failed to chart. Four months after the album was released, Kiss was pulled off of the tour and called back into the studio to record a follow-up. "Hotter than Hell" was certified gold on June 23, 1977.


title: Mydriasis

text: Mydriasis is the dilation of the pupil, usually having a non-physiological cause, or sometimes a physiological pupillary response. Non-physiological causes of mydriasis include disease, trauma, or the use of certain types of drugs.


title: Mydriasis

text: Normally, as part of the pupillary light reflex, the pupil dilates in the dark and constricts in the light to respectively improve vividity at night and to protect the retina from sunlight damage during the day. A "mydriatic" pupil will remain excessively large even in a bright environment. The excitation of the radial fibres of the iris which increases the pupillary aperture is referred to as a mydriasis. More generally, mydriasis also refers to the natural dilation of pupils, for instance in low light conditions or under sympathetic stimulation.


title: Mydriasis

text: Fixed, unilateral mydriasis could be a symptom of raised intracranial pressure. The opposite, constriction of the pupil, is referred to as miosis. Both mydriasis and miosis can be physiological. Anisocoria is the condition of one pupil being more dilated than the other.


title: Mydriasis

text: There are two types of muscle that control the size of the iris: the iris sphincter, composed of circularly arranged muscle fibers, and the iris dilator, composed of radially arranged muscle fibers. The sphincter is controlled by nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system, and the dilator by the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic stimulation of the adrenergic receptors causes the contraction of the radial muscle and subsequent dilation of the pupil. Conversely, parasympathetic stimulation causes contraction of the circular muscle and constriction of the pupil.


title: Mydriasis

text: The mechanism of mydriasis depends on the agent being used. It usually involves either a disruption of the parasympathetic nerve supply to the eye (which normally constricts the pupil) or overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).


title: Mydriasis

text: Pupil diameter also increases in reaction to cognitive tasks requiring memory and attention, and this phenomenon is used as an indicator of mental activation (‘arousal’) in psychophysiological experiments.


title: Mydriasis

text: A mydriatic is an agent that induces dilation of the pupil. Drugs such as tropicamide are used in medicine to permit examination of the retina and other deep structures of the eye, and also to reduce painful ciliary muscle spasm (see cycloplegia). One effect of administration of a mydriatic is intolerance to bright light (photophobia). Purposefully-induced mydriasis via mydriatics is also used as a diagnostic test for Horner's syndrome.


title: Mydriasis

text: Parasympathetic fibers travel with cranial nerve III, the oculomotor nerve, to innervate the circular layer of muscle of the eye (sphincter pupillae). Damage to this nerve typically manifests itself as mydriasis, because the sympathetic supply to the pupil, which causes mydriasis, remains unaffected, and therefore unopposed.


title: Mydriasis

text: Multiple central nervous system disorders e.g. epilepsy, stroke, and impending brain herniation are known to lead to temporal mydriasis as well. A brain catastrophe, or a rapidly increasing brain mass, can cause compression of the oculomotor nerve.


title: Mydriasis

text: In cases of head injury or orbit trauma (eye injury), the iris sphincter (the muscle responsible for closing the pupil) or the nerves controlling it can be damaged, reducing or eliminating the normal pupillary light reflex.


title: Dzogchen

text: Dzogchen (, "Great Perfection" or "Great Completion"), also known as "atiyoga" (utmost yoga), is a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existence. The primordial ground ("gzhi", "basis") is said to have the qualities of purity (i.e. emptiness), spontaneity ("lhun grub", associated with luminous clarity) and compassion ("thugs rje"). The goal of Dzogchen is knowledge of this basis, this knowledge is called "rigpa" (Skt. "vidyā")"." There are numerous spiritual practices taught in the various Dzogchen systems for awakening rigpa.


title: Dzogchen

text: Dzogchen developed in the Tibetan Empire period and the Era of Fragmentation (9th-11th centuries) and continues to be practiced today both in Tibet and around the world. It is a central teaching of the Yundrung Bon tradition as well as in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. In these traditions, Dzogchen is the highest and most definitive path of the nine vehicles to liberation. Dzogchen is also practiced (to a lesser extent) in other Tibetan Buddhist schools, such as the Kagyu, Sakya and the Gelug schools.


title: Dzogchen

text: According to the 14th Dalai Lama, the term "dzogchen" may be a rendering of the Sanskrit term "mahāsandhi".


title: Dzogchen

text: The term initially referred to the "highest perfection" of Vajrayana deity yoga. Specifically it refers to the stage after the deity visualisation has been dissolved and one rests in the natural state of the innately luminous and pure mind. According to Sam van Schaik, in the 8th-century tantra "Sarvabuddhasamāyoga," the term refers to "a realization of the nature of reality" which arises through the practice of tantric anuyoga practices which produce bliss.


title: Dzogchen

text: In the 10th and 11th century, when "Dzogchen" emerged as a separate vehicle to liberation in the Nyingma tradition, the term was used synonymously with the Sanskrit term "ati yoga" (primordial yoga).


title: Dzogchen

text: "Rigpa" (Sanskrit: "vidyā", "knowledge") is a central concept in Dzogchen. According to Ācārya Malcolm Smith:


title: Dzogchen

text: "Ma rigpa" ("avidyā") is the opposite of rigpa or knowledge. "Ma rigpa" is ignorance, delusion or unawareness, the failure to recognize the nature of the basis. An important theme in Dzogchen texts is explaining how ignorance arises from the basis or Dharmata, which is associated with "ye shes" or pristine consciousness. Automatically arising unawareness ("lhan-skyes ma-rigpa") exists because the basis has a natural cognitive potentiality which gives rise to appearances. This is the ground for samsara and nirvana.


title: Dzogchen

text: "The Mirror of the Heart of Vajrasattva" ("Dorje Sempa Nyinggi Melong"), a major Dzogchen tantra, explains the term "Dzog" (Perfection) as follows:


title: Dzogchen

text: The Three Series of Dzogchen ("rdzogs chen sde gsum") are a traditional Tibetan Buddhist classification which divides the teachings of the Nyingma school's Dzogchen tradition into three series, divisions or sections. These three are: the "Semde" ('Mind Series'), the "Longdé" ('Space Series') and the "Menngagde" ('Instruction Series'). Traditional accounts of the Nyingma school attribute this schema to the Indian master Mañjuśrīmitra (c. 8th century).


title: Dzogchen

text: According to modern Tibetologists, this doxographic schema actually developed in the literature of the Instruction Series (c. 11th century onwards) as a way to distinguish and categorize the various Dzogchen teachings at the time. According to Instruction Series texts, the Mind Series is based on understanding that one's own mind is the basis of all appearances and that this basis, called mind itself, is empty and luminous. The Space series meanwhile is focused on emptiness (Skt. "śūnyatā," T. "stong-pa nyid"). Finally, the Instruction Series itself is seen as the most direct kind of realization, without the need to meditate on emptiness or mind. Over time, the Instruction Series came to dominate the Dzogchen tradition and it remains the series that is most widely practiced and taught while the other two series are rarely practiced today (with the exception of a few masters like Namkhai Norbu).


title: Dzogchen

text: According to Namkhai Norbu, the three series are three modes of presenting and introducing the state of Dzogchen. Norbu states that Mennagde is a more direct form of introduction, Longde is closely associated with symbolic forms of introducing Dzogchen and Semde is more focused on oral forms of introduction. Germano writes that the Mind Series serves as a classification for the earlier texts and forms of Dzogchen "prior to the development of the Seminal Heart movements" which focused on meditations based on tantric understandings of bodhicitta ("byang chub kyi sems"). This referred to the ultimate nature of the mind, which is empty ("stong pa"), luminous ("'od gsal ba"), and pure. According to Germano, the Space and Instruction Series are associated with later (historical) developments of Dzogchen "which increasingly experimented with re-incorporating tantric contemplative techniques centered on the body and vision, as well as the consequent philosophical shifts his became interwoven with."


title: Dzogchen

text: A key concept in Dzogchen is the 'base', 'ground' or 'primordial state' (Tibetan: "gzhi", Sanskrit: "āśraya"), also called the general ground ("spyi gzhi") or the original ground ("gdod ma'i gzhi"). The basis is the original state "before realization produced buddhas and nonrealization produced sentient beings". It is atemporal and unchanging and yet it is "noetically potent", giving rise to mind ("sems," Skt. "citta"), consciousness ("shes pa," Skt. "vijñāna"), delusion ("marigpa," Skt. "avidyā") and knowledge ("rigpa", Skt. "vidyā"). Furthermore, Hatchell notes that the Dzogchen tradition portrays ultimate reality as something which is "beyond the concepts of one and many."


title: Dzogchen

text: Herbert V. Guenther points out that this "Ground" is both a static potential and a dynamic unfolding. They give a process-orientated translation, to avoid any essentialist associations, since


title: Dzogchen

text: The 19th/20th-century Tibetan Buddhist scholar, Shechen Gyaltsap Gyurme Pema Namgyal, sees the Buddha-nature as ultimate truth, nirvana, which is constituted of profundity, primordial peace and radiance:


title: Dzogchen

text: Direct introduction is called the "Empowerment of Awareness" (, pronounced "rigpay sall wahng"), a technical term employed within the Dzogchen lineages for a particular lineage of empowerment propagated by Jigme Lingpa. This empowerment consists of the direct introduction of the student to the intrinsic nature of their own mind-essence, rigpa, by their empowering master.


title: Dzogchen

text: In Dzogchen tradition, pointing-out instruction () is also referred to as "pointing out the nature of mind" (), "pointing out transmission", or "introduction to the nature of mind". The pointing-out instruction ("ngo sprod") is an introduction to the nature of mind.


title: Dzogchen

text: There are three major divisions of the Dzogchen path, known as the "Three Dharmas of the Path." These are "tawa", "gompa", and "chöpa". Namkhai Norbu translates these three terms as 'view,' 'practice,' and 'conduct.'


title: Dzogchen

text: Garab Dorje (c. 665) epitomized the Dzogchen teaching in three principles, known as "Striking the Vital Point in Three Statements" ("Tsik Sum Né Dek"), said to be his last words. They give in short the development a student has to undergo:


title: Dzogchen

text: Garab Dorje's three statements were integrated into the "Nyingthig" traditions, the most popular of which in the "Longchen Nyingthig" by Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798). The statements are:


title: Dzogchen

text: Nyingma Dzogchen texts use unique terminology to describe the Dzogchen view (Tib. "tawa"). Some of these terms deal with the different elements and features of the mind and are drawn from classic Buddhist thought. The generic term for consciousness is "shes pa" ("Skt. vijñāna"), and includes the six sense consciousnesses. Worldly, impure and dualistic forms of consciousness are generally referred to with terms such as "sems" ("citta," mind), "yid" ("mānas") and "blo" ("buddhi"). On the other hand, nirvanic or liberated forms of consciousness are described with terms such as "ye shes" ("jñāna", 'pristine consciousness') and "shes rab" ("prajñā", wisdom). According to Sam van Schaik, two significant terms used in Dzogchen literature is the ground ("gzhi") and gnosis ("rig pa"), which represent the "ontological and gnoseological aspects of the nirvanic state" respectively.


title: Dzogchen

text: Nyingma Dzogchen literature also describes nirvana as the "expanse" or "space" ("klong" or "dbyings") or the "expanse of Dharma" ("chos dbyings", Sanskrit: "Dharmadhatu"). The term "Dharmakaya" (Dharma body) is also often associated with these terms in Dzogchen, as explained by Tulku Urgyen:


title: Dzogchen

text: The Dzogchen View of the secret instruction series ("man ngag sde") is classically explained through the eleven vajra topics. These can be found in the "String of Pearls Tantra" ("Mu tig phreng ba"), the "Great Commentary by Vimalamitra" as well as in Longchenpa's "Treasury of Word and Meaning" ("Tsik Dön Dzö)."


title: Dzogchen

text: Dzogchen practice ("gompa") relies on the view outlined above. However, according to Norbu, this is not an intellectual view, but a "direct, non-dual, non-conceptual knowledge" of fundamentally pure absolute nature which has become veiled by dualistic conditioning. In Dzogchen, one achieves this view through one's relationship with a guru or lama who introduces one to our own primordial state and provides instruction on how to practice. This "direct introduction" and transmission from a Dzogchen master is considered absolutely essential.


title: Dzogchen

text: Dzogchen teachings emphasize naturalness, spontaneity and simplicity. Although Dzogchen is often portrayed as being distinct from or beyond tantra, Dzogchen traditions have incorporated many tantric concepts and practices. Dzogchen lineages embrace a varied array of traditions, that range from a systematic rejection of Buddhist tantra, to a full incorporation of tantric practices. The "main practices" are often considered advanced and thus preliminary practices and ritual initiation are generally seen as requirements.


title: Dzogchen

text: The Dzogchen tradition contain vast anthologies and systems of practices, including Buddhist meditation, tantric yogas and unique Dzogchen methods. The earliest form of Dzogchen practice (the "Semde", "Mind" series) generally emphasized non-symbolic "formless" practices (as opposed to tantric deity yoga). With the influence of Sarma tantra, the rise of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, and the systematisations of Longchenpa, the main Dzogchen practices came to be preceded by preliminary practices and infused with tantric practices.


title: Dzogchen

text: Namkhai Norbu makes a distinction between Dzogchen "contemplation" proper ("trekchö") and "meditation". According to Norbu, contemplation is "abiding in the non-dual state [i.e. rigpa] which, of its own nature, uninterruptedly self-liberates" while meditation is any practice "working with the dualistic, relative mind, in order to enable one to enter the state of contemplation." Norbu adds that all the various meditative practices found in Dzogchen teachings (such as the "six yogas") are simply means to help practitioners access rigpa and are thus "secondary."


title: Dzogchen

text: Similarly, Achard notes that the core Dzogchen practice is the state of contemplation ("dgongs pa") that refers to abiding in one's primordially pure state. This "could actually be described as an actual absence of particular practice" which is "devoid of action, effort and exertion" (such as tantric generation or completion practice). Furthermore, Achard notes that "for strict rDzogs chen practitioners, Guru-Yoga and Sky Gazing are the main means enabling the access to the state of Contemplation in a totally unaltered mode."


title: Dzogchen

text: In "Finding Ease in Meditation" ("bsam gtan ngal gso"), Longchenpa outlines three main categories of preliminary practices. He stresses that these are necessary to the practice of Dzogchen and criticizes those who attempt to skip them.


title: Dzogchen

text: The "Longchen Nyingthig" system divides preliminaries into ordinary and extraordinary types. The ordinary preliminaries are a series of contemplations of which there are two main instructional texts. One is based on Atisha's Seven Point Mind Training ("Lojong") and is called the "Tarpai Temke". The second is the "Laglenla Deblug".


title: Dzogchen

text: According to Jigme Lingpa, the preliminary practices are the basis of the main practices, and thus, they are not to be abandoned at a later point. Norbu writes that the preliminaries are not compulsory in Dzogchen practice (only direct introduction is essential), instead, the preliminaries are only relatively useful depending on the capacity of individuals and how many obstacles they have in their practice of contemplation.


title: Dzogchen

text: Another important requirement for practicing Dzogchen according to Jigme Lingpa is ritual initiation or empowerment ("dbang") by an awakened lama. According to Tsoknyi Rinpoche, empowerment is necessary, as it plants the "seeds of realization" within the present body, speech and mind. Empowerment "invests us with the ability to be liberated into the already present ground." The practices bring the seeds to maturation, resulting in the qualities of enlightened body, speech and mind.


title: Dzogchen

text: Following tantric initiation, one also engages in the tantric practices of the generation and completion stages of mahayoga and anuyoga. Jigme Lingpa sees all of these tantric practices as gradual steps to be cultivated which lead one to Great Perfection practice. Jigme Lingpa states:


title: Dzogchen

text: Jigme Lingpa mentions two kinds of Dzogchen meditations (which can be used as preliminaries to "trekchö") "korde rushen", "making a gap between samsara and nirvana," and "sbyong ba" ("training").


title: Dzogchen

text: "Rushen" are a series of visualisation and recitation exercises. The name reflects the dualism of the distinctions between mind and insight, ālaya and dharmakāya. Longchenpa places this practice in the "enhancement" ("bogs dbyung") section of his concluding phase. It describes a practice "involving going to a solitary spot and acting out whatever comes to your mind."


title: Dzogchen

text: "Sbyong ba" are a variety of teachings for training the body, speech and mind. The training of the body entails instructions for physical posture. The training of speech mainly entails recitation, especially of the syllable "hūm". The training of the mind is a Madhyamaka-like analysis of the concept of the mind, to make clear that mind cannot arise from anywhere, reside anywhere, or go anywhere. They are in effect an establishment of emptiness by means of the intellect. According to Jigme Lingpa, these practices serve to purify the mind and pacify the hindrances.


title: Dzogchen

text: The actual Dzogchen meditation methods, which are unique to the tradition, appear in Longchen Nyingtik texts such as Jigme Lingpa's "Yeshe Lama" and Longchenpa's "Tsigdön Dzö" and "Tegchö Dzö". The presentation of Dzogchen meditation methods in the "Yeshe Lama" is divided into three parts:


title: Dzogchen

text: The Dzogchen meditation practices include a series of exercises known as "semdzin" ("sems 'dzin"), which literally means "to hold the mind" or "to fix mind." They include a whole range of methods, including fixation, breathing, and different body postures, all aiming to calm the mind and bring one into the state of contemplation. There are also methods of "vipasyana" ("lhagthong") which works with the arising of thoughts. These practices can be found in all three Dzogchen series: Semde, Longdé and Mennagde. Norbu considers these methods of samatha ("shine") and "vipasyana" ("lhagthong") to be "principal practices", even though they work with the mind and are not non-dual contemplation itself.


title: Dzogchen

text: According to Namkhai Norbu, through these various methods one may arrive at "the state of non-dual contemplation" which is without doubts. At this stage, one must continue to remain in this state, which includes the practices of "trekchö" and "tögal".


title: Dzogchen

text: "Trekchö" ("khregs chod") means "(spontaneous) cutting of tension" or "cutting through solidity". The practice of "trekchö" reflects the earliest developments of Dzogchen, with its admonition against practice. In this practice one first identifies, and then sustains recognition of, one's own innately pure, empty awareness. The main trekchö instructions in the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo state "This instant freshness, unspoiled by the thoughts of the three times; You directly see in actuality by letting be in naturalness."


title: Dzogchen

text: "Tögal" ("thod rgal") literally means "crossing the peak." It is sometimes translated as "leapover", "direct crossing", or "direct transcendence". "Tögal" is also called "the practice of vision", or "the practice of the Clear Light ("od-gsal")". Jigme Lingpa follows Longchenpa in seeing the visionary practice of "tögal" as the highest level of meditation practice.


title: Dzogchen

text: Those beings of lesser faculties and limited potential will not attain awakening during the bardo but may transfer their consciousness (a practice called "phowa") to a pure land once they have arrived at the "bardo of existence". Once they reach this bardo, they will recognize they have died and then they will recall the guru with faith and remember the instructions. Then they will think of the pure land and its qualities and they will be reborn there. In a pure land, beings can listen to the Dharma taught directly by Vajrasattva or some other Buddha. Jigme Lingpa recommends that one practice this in daily life as well.


title: Dzogchen

text: For those of middle level capacities, Jigme Lingpa holds that they will attain awakening during the "bardo" or intermediate state during death, by following certain instructions on how to recognize the signs of death and how to practice during the death process. Jigme Lingpa describes the process as follows:


title: Dzogchen

text: Jigme Lingpa also states one should practice this meditation while one is alive, to prepare for the death process meditation: "even while one is alive, when the sky is pristine, direct awareness into space and think, 'The moment of death has arrived. Now I must pass into the peaceful unelaborate expanse.' Exhale the breath and follow that by allowing the mind to remain without focus." Other meditations and techniques are taught as well, which should be practiced while one is alive.


title: Dzogchen

text: Jigme Lingpa gives the following instructions, meant to be recited by a lama or fellow practitioner at the time of death. Various practices are also taught for those who are present when someone else is dying, such as the "three precious upadeshas of the great, profound tantra "Conjunction of the Sun and Moon"". These practices are meant to help the dying through the process and lead them to awakening or a higher rebirth.


title: Dzogchen

text: Further practices related to the "bardo of the nature of phenomena" are also taught. At this point, one should practice "trekchö" and "tögal." There are also specific instructions for this phase of death, which occurs when "the connection between body and mind has ended." According to Jigme Lingpa, at this stage, the consciousness of the basis of all dissolves into the basic space of phenomena and "in that instant, the natural clear light dawns like a cloudless autumn sky."


title: Dzogchen

text: If one does not attain awakening, there will be a series of appearances which will be "extremely bright and colorful, devoid of distinctions such as outer, inner, wide, or narrow." There will also be appearances of the mandalas of peaceful and fierce deities. One is supposed to recognize all these appearances as being one's own mind and as lacking true existence.


title: Dzogchen

text: Longchenpa's "Trilogy of Natural Ease" ("ngal gso skor gsum"), is mainly a "Semde" (Mind Series) focused system, though it includes numerous elements from later more tantric systems. In the first volume of this trilogy, "Finding Ease in the Nature of Mind" ("sems nyid ngal gso"), Longchenpa outlines 141 contemplative practices, split into three sections: exoteric Buddhism (92), tantra (22), and the Great Perfection (27). This system remained influential in Tibet and was the main system taught by Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887).


title: Dzogchen

text: This system includes numerous contemplative practices including analytical contemplations into emptiness, calming (zhi gnas) practices (such as visualizing the channels, a deity or the breath), insight (lhag mthong) practices as well the integration ("zung 'jug") of calming and insight (such as the practice of sky gazing or contemplating the mind). It also includes numerous contemplations which are formless and "technique free" and thus do not make sure of an object of focus (such as a tantric deity) and instead focus on intangible themes such as emptiness, the spaciousness of the mind and the illusory quality of appearances.


title: Dzogchen

text: In the second book of the Trilogy of Natural Ease, "Finding Ease in Meditation" ("bsam gtan ngal gso"), Longchenpa uses the standard triad of meditative experiences ("nyams") to present various practices: bliss ("bde ba"), radiance/clarity ("gsal ba"), and non-conceptuality ("mi rtog pa"), which is presented as corresponding to preliminaries, main practice, and concluding phase. The bliss practices are focused on "tummo," "radiance" practices use the bodily winds/breath and visualization of light, and the practices dealing with non-conceptuality are based on contemplating the vastness of the sky.


title: Dzogchen

text: The more conceptual meditations are relegated to the preliminary phase, while the main practices are formless and "direct" approaches supplemented by perfection stage techniques (i.e. "anuyoga"). Longchenpa includes the perfection phase techniques of channels, winds and nuclei into the main and concluding phases which also include new supporting contemplative techniques. However, unlike in other perfection stage practice systems, Longchenpa's perfection practices are extremely simple ("spros med"), and stress effortlessness and balance instead of complexity ("spros bcas").


title: Dzogchen

text: The teachings based on Jigme Lingpa's 18th century "Longchen Nyingthig" system are also divided into preliminary practices ("ngondro", subdivided into various classes) and main practices (which are "trekchö" and "tögal)". In "The White Lotus" ("rGyab brten padma dkar po"), Jigme Lingpa outlines the path of "Nyingthig" Dzogchen practice as follows:


title: Dzogchen

text: Norbu notes that "Tantric practices may be used as secondary practices by the practitioner of Dzogchen, alongside the principal practice of contemplation." Similarly, physical yoga (Tib. "trulkhor") may also be used as supporting practices.


title: Dzogchen

text: According to Namkhai Norbu, in Dzogchen, "to become realized simply means to discover and manifest that which from the very beginning has been our own true condition: the Zhi (gzhi) or Base." Since the basis, the path of practice and the fruit or result of practice are non-dual from the ultimate perspective, in Dzogchen understands the path as not separate from the result or fruit of the path (i.e. Buddhahood). Once a Dzogchen practitioner has recognized their true nature (and "do not remain in doubt" regarding this), the path consists of the integration ("sewa") of all experiences in their life with the state of rigpa. All these experiences are self-liberated through this integration or mixing.


title: Dzogchen

text: This process is often explained through three "liberations" or capacities of a Dzogchen practitioner:


title: Dzogchen

text: Advanced Dzogchen practitioners are also said to sometimes manifest supranormal knowledge (Skt. "abhijñā," Tib. "mngon shes"), such as clairvoyance and telepathy.


title: Dzogchen

text: "Tögal" practice may lead to full Buddhahood and the self-liberation of the human body into a rainbow body at the moment of death, when all fixation and grasping has been exhausted. Tibetan Buddhism holds that the rainbow body is a nonmaterial body of light with the ability to exist and abide wherever and whenever as pointed by one's compassion. It is a manifestation of the sambhogakāya and its attainment is said to be accompanied by the appearance of lights and rainbows.


title: Dzogchen

text: Some exceptional practitioners are held to have realized a higher type of rainbow body without dying (these include the 24 Bön masters from the oral tradition of Zhang Zhung, Tapihritsa, Padmasambhava, and Vimalamitra). Having completed the four visions before death, the individual focuses on the lights that surround the fingers. His or her physical body self-liberates into a nonmaterial body of light with the ability to exist and abide wherever and whenever as pointed by one's compassion.


title: Dzogchen

text: As noted by van Schaik, there is a tension in the Longchen Nyingtik tradition of Dzogchen between methods which emphasize gradual practice and attainments, and methods which emphasize primordial liberation, simultaneous enlightenment, and non-activity. This seeming contradiction is explained by authors of the tradition as being related to the different levels of ability of different practitioners.


title: Dzogchen

text: For example, the works of Jigme Lingpa contain criticisms of methods which rely on cause and effect as well as methods that rely on intellectual analysis. Since Buddhahood is uncaused and transcendent of the intellect, these contrived and conceptual meditations are contrasted with "effortless" and "instantaneous" approaches in the works of Jigme Lingpa, who writes that as soon as a thought arises, it is to be seen nakedly, without analysis or examination. Similarly, a common theme of Dzogchen literature is the elevation of Dzogchen above all other "lower" ("'og ma") vehicles and a criticism of these lower vehicles which are seen as inferior ("dman pa") approaches.


title: Dzogchen

text: In spite of these critiques, Dzogchen cycles like Jigme Lingpa's "Longchen Nyingthig" do contain numerous practices which are not instantaneous or effortless, such as tantric Mahayoga practice like deity yoga and preliminary methods such as ngondro (which are equated with the path of accumulation). Furthermore, Jigme Lingpa and Longchenpa also criticize those who teach the simultaneous method to everyone and teach them to dispense with all other methods at once.


title: Dzogchen

text: In response to the idea that the gradualist teachings found in the Longchen Nyingtik texts contradict the Dzogchen view of primordial liberation, Jigme Lingpa states:


title: Dzogchen

text: This division of practices according to level of ability is also found in Longchenpa's "Tegchö Dzö." However, as van Schaik notes, "the system should not be taken too literally. It is likely that all three types of instruction contained in the threefold structure of YL ["Yeshe Lama"] would be given to any one person." Therefore, though the instructions would be given to all student types, the actual capacity of the practitioner would determine how they would attain awakening (through Dzogchen meditation, in the bardo of death, or through transference of consciousness). Jigme Lingpa also believed that students of the superior faculties were extremely rare. He held that for most people, a gradual path of training is what is needed to reach realization.


title: Goblin (album)

text: Goblin is the debut studio album by American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released on May 10, 2011, by XL Recordings. "Goblin" continues Tyler's dialogues with his fictional therapist Dr. TC, first heard on his 2009 mixtape, "Bastard". The album's songs were produced almost entirely by Tyler himself, along with a contribution from fellow Odd Future member Left Brain. The album features guest appearances from Odd Future members Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats, Jasper Dolphin, Taco, Domo Genesis, Mike G and Syd.


title: Goblin (album)

text: "Goblin" was supported by three singles: "Sandwitches", "Yonkers" and "She". The single "Yonkers" is considered responsible for garnering the significant internet and industry buzz surrounding Odd Future at the time of the album's release. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, debuting at number five on the US "Billboard" 200.


title: Goblin (album)

text: After the release of "Bastard", Tyler signed to British independent label XL Recordings and announced "Goblin" after the release of "Yonkers". Close friend and fellow Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt was notably not featured on the album due to attending Coral Reef Academy in Samoa at the time.


title: Goblin (album)

text: "Goblin" continues the horrorcore subject matter first displayed on "Bastard". Fictional therapist, Dr. TC, appears throughout the album. The second track, "Yonkers", features a gritty beat with a large bass sound, reminiscent of the production of Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA. Tyler claims to have made the instrumental in eight minutes as a parody of New York City beats. The third track, "Radicals", talks about youthful rebellion. The chorus contains the chanted lines "Kill people, burn shit, fuck school", which was previously used by Tyler on Earl Sweatshirt's song "Pigions" from his 2010 mixtape, "Earl". Pranav Trewn of "Stereogum" commented on the song, stating "[It] isn't an anthem of retaliation, but rather self-immolation; you have to purge everything else to discover what's left of yourself". "Bitch Suck Dick" is an over-the-top trap parody featuring stereotypical misogynistic lyrics from Jasper Dolphin and Taco, similar to "Bastard"s "Tina" and "Wolf"s "Trashwang". On the album's final track, "Golden", it's revealed that Dr. TC is just Tyler's conscience, and everyone he was interacting with were a figment of his imagination.


title: Goblin (album)

text: On October 8, 2010, Tyler and Hodgy released "Sandwitches" on Odd Future's official website for free. On February 10, 2011, Tyler released the music video for the first single, "Yonkers", from the album. An extended version with an extra verse was later released on iTunes four days later, along with an extended version of the previously released track "Sandwitches". On February 16, Tyler and Hodgy Beats performed "Sandwitches" on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon", making it the first television appearance for any Odd Future member. One month later, on March 16, 2011, Tyler and Hodgy Beats performed the tracks "Yonkers" and "Sandwitches" on the mtvU Woodie Awards with the rest of Odd Future. On that same day, a preview of "Tron Cat" was released online as promotion for the album. Also in March, the album cover was posted online featuring a colored picture of Buffalo Bill when he was 19, and it was featured as a backdrop for Tyler's MTV performance. On March 24, Tyler posted the track list on his Twitter, and the track "Sandwitches" was to be included on the album.


title: Goblin (album)

text: On March 17, 2011, Tyler announced the release date of "Goblin" with a video on his website that flashed the words "Fuck 2DopeBoyz & NahRight", slamming two blogs who he claimed didn't give him recognition early in his career.


title: Goblin (album)

text: "Goblin" was also released as a deluxe edition with alternate artwork and packaging, a poster, lyrics, and a second disc containing three bonus tracks. Tyler released the deluxe edition cover of the album on his Flickr on April 4, 2011. On April 21, Tyler posted several pictures from the filming of a new music video, followed by an announcement that the video is finished on the next day. On April 22, Tyler released a promo video involving himself portraying a character named Thurnis Haley who is a golfer. On April 28, "Tron Cat" was leaked online. On May 3, Tyler and Hodgy Beats performed "Sandwitches" and "Analog" on BBC, along with them performing "65" off of the upcoming MellowHype album.


title: Goblin (album)

text: The third single to be released from the album was "She" featuring Frank Ocean. The music video for "She" was released June 3, 2011.


title: Goblin (album)

text: "Goblin" was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 72, based on 37 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.


title: Goblin (album)

text: Jon Dolan from "Rolling Stone" complimenting the album's "lush, left-field R&B-tinged tracks" along with its "early-Eminem evil" lyrics. David Jeffries of AllMusic commenting that "Tyler's production is as attractive as ever, contrasting his disgusting rhymes and gruff voice with subdued, sometimes serene beats that echo and creep". Brad Wete of "Entertainment Weekly" said, "Too bad Kanye—who's also a fan—already used the title last fall, because "Goblin" is one "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"". "Slant Magazine" critic Huw Jones praising its production and stating that ""Goblin" could well be one of the decade's most significant releases...a masterpiece for those capable of stomaching it". The reviewer Jen Long from the BBC enjoyed Tyler's lyrical "run of shock tactics reminiscent of Eminem", many strongly criticized the similarity. Joshua Errett of "Now" said that someone should have informed Tyler that "Eminem already did this 15 years ago". Louis Pattison of "NME" said, "It's an album that leaves you in no doubt that Odd Future's leader is a rare talent".


title: Goblin (album)

text: Evan Rytlewski of "The A.V. Club" said, "Brash and unwieldy as it seems on the surface, "Goblin" is a deliberately created work of art, one of the densest and most provocative statements that independent rap has produced in years". Scott Plagenhoef of "Pitchfork" said, "His fantasies and lack of filter are still huge roadblocks for many if not most listeners. They're depraved and despicable, tied in part to a long and unfortunate legacy of gangster and street rap. They're also one aspect of a larger, character-driven story—a license that we grant to visual arts, film, and literature but rarely to pop music". Max Feldman of "PopMatters" said, "It's that sort of shameful thing that would prevent us from seeing "Goblin" for what it really is: a massive spoonful of marvelous hip-hop medicine, of the most unnerving, hyperreal humour you may well ever hear". Chris Martins of "Spin" said, "Is the entire thing about 20 minutes too long? Probably. But the obvious lack of outside meddling proves that Tyler's auteur status remains intact. He is, in the parlance of our times, still swaggin'. Now maybe he can get to work on winning that Grammy". Randal Roberts from the "Los Angeles Times" commented that the album just "presses the same button that Elvis, Johnny Rotten, Chuck D and Eminem did" and after "about 50 minutes you just want Tyler, the Creator to shut the hell up".


title: Goblin (album)

text: In a 2018 interview with "GQ", Tyler called "Goblin" "horrible". He stated that, in hindsight, he'd only keep seven tracks from the album: "Yonkers", "She", "Nightmare", "Tron Cat", "Fish", "Analog" and "AU79".


title: Goblin (album)

text: "Goblin" debuted at number five on the "Billboard" 200, with first-week sales of 45,000 copies in the United States. As of April 2013, the album has sold 230,000 copies in the United States. On January 30, 2018, "Goblin" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of 2012, the album has sold 25,000 copies in United Kingdom.


title: Goblin (album)

text: All songs are produced by Tyler, the Creator (T. Okonma), except for "Transylvania", which is produced by Left Brain.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: Kenzo (stylized as KENZO PARIS) is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1970 by Japanese designer Kenzo Takada and owned by parent company LVMH.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: Kenzo Takada was born in Japan and moved to Paris in 1964 to start his fashion career. He then became known for using Asian and Japanese influenced style with the construction of European fashion. He started with a 'Jungle Jap' boutique located at Galerie Vivienne and decorated in jungle inspired interior. He began with handmade women's clothing; reportedly, he made his first collection with $200 worth of fabrics bought at a large discount house in Montmartre. The brand became Kenzo after a fashion show in New York in 1976, as the American market considered 'Jungle Jap' too pejorative.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: In 1983, Kenzo started designing men and then kids and home collections in 1987, followed by fragrances in 1988.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: In 1993, luxury-products maker LVMH acquired Kenzo from SEBP and Financière Truffaut for about $80 million. From 1995, Kenzo also produced Kenzo Studio, a line was produced through a licensing agreement with the Bonaventure Group. While Kenzo developed the line's fashion direction, Studio was sold only in the U.S. and Kenzo retail stores in China.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: From 1999 until 2003, Gilles Rosier and Roy Krejberg designed the women's and men's lines, respectively.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: From 2008 until 2011, Antonio Marras served as Kenzo's creative director, overseeing the brand in its entirety. By 2011, Kenzo barely broke even, with annual sales estimated at 150 million euros ($197.4 million).


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: By 2017, Kenzo built the accessories and shoe business to almost 30 percent of revenues. In 2019, Kenzo ended its distribution agreement with I.T to take back control of its 35 stores in China via a joint venture with the same partner. Under the creative direction of Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Kenzo launched a line of men's and women's sportswear, titled Kenzo Sport. In April 2021, Kenzo said it would part ways with Oliveira Baptista by the end of his term in June.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: Kenzo has expanded rapidly in the time since its first American store has opened, as of June 2021 it now operates 6 locations in the US:


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: Additionally it has nearly 145 stores worldwide primarily concentrated in South East Asia, Japan and Europe


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: In 2012, designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim unveiled a knitted sweater with a tiger graphic on it for Kenzo's Fall 2012 collection. Leon wanted to make a sweatshirt version of the sweater for him to wear. Despite initial resistance from Kenzo's design team, the tiger sweatshirts became extremely popular, with the initial run of sweatshirts selling out within hours at Kenzo's Paris location. Since 2011, the tiger shirt and clothing designed by Leon and Lim has been worn by celebrities and fashion bloggers including Jay Z, Kevin Hart, Beyoncé, Zooey Deschanel, Swizz Beatz, Selena Gomez, Spike Jonze, Joan Smalls, Lorde, NorthernSound and Rihanna.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: For the Fall 2014 collection, Kenzo collaborated with filmmaker David Lynch, who mixed the soundtrack for the show and provided a large sculpture.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: For the Fall and Winter 2016 collection, Kenzo produced the campaign film "The Realest Real" starring Laura Harrier, Mahershala Ali, Natasha Lyonne, and Rowan Blanchard, and directed by Carrie Brownstein. Also in 2016, Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Red Rocket) directed a short film starring model Abbey Lee called "Snowbird" for Kenzo SS16.


title: Kenzo (brand)

text: In 2016, Kenzo announced its collaboration with H&M. Kenzo X H&M collection was released on November 3, 2016. The fashion house also collaborates with Inglot Cosmetics company, which manufactures make-up products. On March 21, 2018, Kenzo revealed Britney Spears as the face of its new 'La Collection Memento No. 2' campaign. The collaboration, marketed as #KenzoLovesBritney, features a variety of ready-to-wear nostalgic denim pieces for men and women.


title: Gale Harold

text: Gale Morgan Harold III (born July 10, 1969) is an American actor, known for his leading and recurring roles on "Queer as Folk", "Deadwood", "Desperate Housewives", "Grey's Anatomy", "The Secret Circle" and "Defiance". He also starred in the romantic comedy "Falling for Grace".


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was an engineer and his mother a real estate agent. Because Harold's parents were devout Pentecostals, he had strict religious upbringing. At age 15, he left the church.


title: Gale Harold

text: Following graduation from the Lovett School, Harold attended American University in Washington, D.C., on a soccer scholarship. He began a Liberal Arts degree in romance literature, departing after a few months and moved to San Francisco, California to study photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. He worked a variety of jobs including construction, bartender, waiter, and apprentice motorcycle mechanic.


title: Gale Harold

text: In 1997, Susan Landau, daughter of actor Martin Landau, suggested Harold try acting. He dropped out of the San Francisco Art Institute and relocated to Los Angeles, where he began a three-year period of intensive drama study. He was accepted into the Actors Conservatory Program with the classical theater company A Noise Within. In his theatrical debut, Harold appeared as "Bunny" in Gillian Plowman's "Me and My Friends".


title: Gale Harold

text: In 2000, Harold was cast as Brian Kinney, a central character on Showtime's popular gay drama "Queer as Folk".


title: Gale Harold

text: During the summer hiatus from "Queer as Folk," Harold made his New York theatrical debut in "Uncle Bob" along with George Morfogen.


title: Gale Harold

text: In 2003, Harold starred in "Wake", produced by Susan Landau Finch and directed by her husband Henry LeRoy Finch.


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold had the lead role of Special Agent Graham Kelton in the short-lived FOX series "Vanished" in 2006.


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold also guest-starred as Wyatt Earp in two episodes of the HBO series "Deadwood" and appeared twice on the CBS series "The Unit". Alongside David Bowie, Harold was an associate producer of the documentary "".


title: Gale Harold

text: Gale Harold returned to the New York stage in Tennessee Williams' play "Suddenly Last Summer" on November 15, 2006, in the role of Dr. Cukrowicz ("Dr. Sugar"). Harold's co-stars in the Roundabout Theatre repertory production, a limited Off-Broadway engagement running through January 20, 2007, were Blythe Danner and Carla Gugino.


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold was the male lead in the indie romantic comedy "Falling for Grace", which debuted favorably at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival (under the working title "East Broadway"). Harold played an eligible New York bachelor in an interracial relationship with an Asian-American woman.


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold appeared in November 2007 in a guest role on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" as Shane, a paramedic and white supremacist who is injured in an ambulance crash.


title: Gale Harold

text: He appeared in "Desperate Housewives" on the fourth season finale May 18, 2008 as Jackson Braddock, Susan Mayer's love interest. Six months after a serious motorcycle accident, Harold returned to play Jackson on the May 3, 2009 episode of the show.


title: Gale Harold

text: In January and February 2010, Harold performed alongside Denise Crosby and ex-model Claudia Mason in Tennessee Williams' "Orpheus Descending" at Theater/Theatre in Los Angeles. The production and cast received mostly positive reviews, with the Los Angeles Times calling his performance "brilliant" and adding "Harold, ideally cast, beautifully ignites with Crosby, whose unconventional interpretation is an affecting revelation."


title: Gale Harold

text: In July 2010, it was announced at the Television Critics Association Summer Tour that Harold had accepted a recurring role as a law professor in the upcoming series "Hellcats". The series concluded its season with Harold's character involved in an affair with the show's lead character Marti (played by Aly Michalka). The series was cancelled after one season.


title: Gale Harold

text: The CW picked up "The Secret Circle" for the fall of 2011. The series revolved around a coven of teenage witches in a small town in Washington, each a member of a different witch clan dating back to the 17th Century. Harold played a scheming and powerful male witch who is the father of one of the teenagers. On May 11, 2012, The CW announced the cancellation of the series.


title: Gale Harold

text: In 2011, Harold was also featured in two movies, "Low Fidelity" and "Rehab", as one of the main characters.


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold appeared on three episodes of the first season of the show "Defiance" (1.06, 1.08 and 1.09). On May 10, 2013, Syfy renewed "Defiance" for a 13 episode second season to air in 2014. Harold returned for a guest appearance in the second season of the show in the episode "Put the Damage On".


title: Gale Harold

text: In 2013, Harold appeared in a short film, "The Spirit Game". The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and it was released online on September 2, 2014.


title: Gale Harold

text: At the Rise 'n Shine Convention (June 9, 2013), Harold said that he was currently working on a project about Civil War, "Field of Lost Shoes".


title: Gale Harold

text: In 2014, Harold participated in different projects including the short film, "Thirst," which was directed by Rachel McDonald and premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on August 7, 2014, and the film "Echo Park", which premiered in the LA Film Festival on June 14, 2014. He also appeared in the sci-fi/action movie "Andron".


title: Gale Harold

text: In 2020, Harold became a co-founder of Filmmakers First Fund, a Los Angeles-based film fund and studio space dedicated to artists with full-length narrative and documentary film projects in the early stages of development. 2020 grantees included Rachel Lears for To the End (2022), a documentary following Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Varshini Prakash, and Alexandra Rojas as they fight for the Green New Deal.


title: Gale Harold

text: On October 14, 2008, Harold was hospitalized at the LAC+USC Medical Center after a motorcycle accident. He remained in critical condition after swelling of the brain was discovered as well as a fractured shoulder. Harold was subsequently released from intensive care and returned to complete his role on "Desperate Housewives". The online motorcycle publication "Clutch & Chrome", which had followed his recovery closely, celebrated his new "Hellcats" role with an article on August 3, 2010.


title: Gale Harold

text: During the shootings of "Vanished" in 2006, Harold shot a short video for the Amber Watch Foundation showing his support about missing children. In the video he stated that "nationwide 1.3 million children go missing each year" and urged people to be champions for child safety.


title: Gale Harold

text: Harold is a supporter of the LGBT community. On July 16, 2012, at the first Annual "Hot 100 Party" hosted by the website AfterEllen"," he recorded an "It Gets Better" video sending his message and advising gay teens to remember their heroes.


title: Gale Harold

text: The actor's sexual orientation was the subject of speculation from the public for many years, until Harold finally identified himself as a straight man.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are one of the categories of top-level domains (TLDs) maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) for use in the Domain Name System of the Internet. A top-level domain is the last level of every fully qualified domain name. They are called generic for historical reasons; initially, they were contrasted with country-specific TLDs in RFC 920.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The core group of generic top-level domains consists of the codice_1, codice_2, codice_3, codice_4, and codice_5 domains. In addition, the domains codice_6, and codice_7 are also considered "generic"; however, these are designated as "restricted", because registrations within them require proof of eligibility within the guidelines set for each.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Historically, the group of generic top-level domains included domains, created in the early development of the domain name system, that are now sponsored by designated agencies or organizations and are restricted to specific types of registrants. Thus, domains codice_8, codice_9, codice_10, and codice_11 are now considered sponsored top-level domains, much like the "themed" top-level domains (e.g., codice_12). The entire group of domains that do not have a geographic or country designation (see country-code top-level domain) is still often referred to by the term "generic" TLDs.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The initial set of generic top-level domains, defined by RFC 920 in October 1984, was a set of "general purpose domains": codice_1, codice_8, codice_9, codice_11, codice_3. The codice_2 domain was added with the first implementation of these domains. The codice_1, codice_2, and codice_3 TLDs, despite their originally specified goals, are now open to use for any purpose.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: In November 1988, another TLD was introduced, codice_10. This TLD was introduced in response to NATO's request for a domain name which adequately reflected its character as an international organization. It was also originally planned to be used for some Internet infrastructure databases, such as codice_23, the IPv6 equivalent of codice_24. However, in May 2000, the Internet Architecture Board proposed to exclude infrastructure databases from the codice_10 domain. All new databases of this type would be created in codice_26 (a legacy domain from the conversion of ARPANET), and existing usage would move to codice_26 wherever feasible, which led to the use of codice_28 for IPv6 reverse lookups.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: By the mid-1990s there was discussion of introduction of more TLDs. Jon Postel, as head of IANA, invited applications from interested parties. In early 1995, Postel created "Draft Postel", an Internet draft containing the procedures to create new domain name registries and new TLDs. Draft Postel created a number of small committees to approve the new TLDs. Because of the increasing interest, a number of large organizations took over the process under the Internet Society's umbrella. This second attempt involved setting up a temporary organization called the International Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC). On February 4, 1997, the IAHC issued a report ignoring the Draft Postel recommendations and instead recommending the introduction of seven new TLDs (codice_29, codice_30, codice_5, codice_32, codice_33, codice_34, and codice_35). However, these proposals were abandoned after the U.S. government intervened.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: In September 1998, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was created to take over the task of managing domain names. After a call for proposals (August 15, 2000) and a brief period of public consultation, ICANN announced on November 16, 2000 its selection of seven new TLDs: codice_36, codice_4, codice_38, codice_5, codice_40, codice_6, codice_7.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: codice_4, codice_5, and codice_40 were activated in June 2001, codice_6 and codice_38 in January 2002, codice_7 in May 2002, and codice_36 later in 2002. codice_7 became a gTLD in May 2002, but did not become fully operational until June 2004.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: ICANN added further TLDs, starting with a set of sponsored top-level domains. The application period for these was from December 15, 2003 to March 16, 2004; it resulted in ten applications. Of these, ICANN approved codice_51, codice_52, codice_12, codice_54, codice_55 and codice_56. In March 2011, codice_57 was approved (one year after an independent review found ICANN had broken its own bylaws by rejecting the application in 2007). Of the remaining applications (codice_58, codice_59 and an alternative codice_55 proposal), codice_58 was introduced in 2012.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: On June 26, 2008, during the 32nd International Public ICANN Meeting in Paris, ICANN started a new process of TLD naming policy to take a "significant step forward on the introduction of new generic top-level domains." This program envisioned the availability of many new or already proposed domains, as well as a new application and implementation process.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The introduction of several generic top-level domains over the years had not stopped the demand for more gTLDs; ICANN received many proposals for establishment of new top-level domains. Proponents argued for a variety of models, ranging from adoption of policies for unrestricted gTLDs (see above) to chartered gTLDs for specialized uses by specialized organizations.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: In 2008, a new initiative foresaw a stringent application process for new domains, adhering to a restricted naming policy for "open gTLDs", "community-based" domains, and internationalized domain names (IDNs). According to a guidebook published by ICANN, a "community-based gTLD" is "a gTLD that is operated for the benefit of a defined community consisting of a restricted population." All other domains fall under the category "open gTLD", which "is one that can be used for any purpose consistent with the requirements of the application and evaluation criteria, and with the registry agreement. An open gTLD may or may not have a formal relationship with an exclusive registrant or user population. It may or may not employ eligibility or use restrictions."


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The establishment of new gTLDs under this program required the management of registrar relationships, the operation of a domain registry, and demonstration of technical (as well as financial) capacity for such operations.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: A fourth version of the draft applicant guidebook (DAG4) was published in May 2011. On June 20, 2011, ICANN's board voted to end most restrictions on the creation of generic top-level domain names (gTLDs) -- at which time 22 gTLDs were available. Companies and organizations would be able to choose essentially arbitrary top-level Internet domains. The use of non-Latin characters (such as Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, etc.) would also be allowed in gTLDs. ICANN began accepting applications for new gTLDs on January 12, 2012. A survey by registrar Melbourne IT considered entertainment and financial services brands most likely to apply for new gTLDs for their brands. The initial price to apply for a new gTLD was $185,000. ICANN expected that the first batch of new gTLDs would be operational by September 2013. ICANN expected the new rules to significantly change the face of the internet. Peter Thrush, chairman of ICANN's board of directors, stated after the vote: "Today's decision will usher in a new internet age. We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration. Unless there is a good reason to restrain it, innovation should be allowed to run free."


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Industry analysts predicted 500–1000 new gTLDs, mostly reflecting names of companies and products, but also cities, and generic names like "bank" and "sport". According to Theo Hnarakis, chief executive of Melbourne IT, the decision would "allow corporations to better take control of their brands. For example, "apple" or "ipad" would take customers right to those products." In agreement, Nick Wood, Managing Director of Valideus, suggested "Your own gTLD demonstrates confidence and vision and may accelerate your brand and its value. An internet address at the Top Level is far better than registration at the 'low rent' Second Level." However, some companies, like Pepsi, ruled out a branded gTLD.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Unrestricted generic top-level domains are those domains that are available for registrations by any person or organization for any use. The prominent gTLDs in this group are codice_1, codice_2, codice_3, and codice_5. However, codice_5 was the only one of these, and the first, that was explicitly chartered as unrestricted. The others initially had a specific target audience. However, due to lack of enforcement, they acquired an unrestricted character, which was later grandfathered.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The term "sponsored top-level domain" is derived from the fact that these domains are based on theme concepts proposed by private agencies or organizations that establish and enforce rules restricting the eligibility of registrants to use the TLD. For example, the codice_36 TLD is sponsored by the Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques, which limits registrations to members of the air-transport industry.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The new gTLD programme saw the arrival of many such top-level domains, with a "restricted open" policy, eligible to those active in a regulated industry, such as .pharma or .bank, or in other industrial domains such as .safety


title: Generic top-level domain

text: A geographic TLD (or "GeoTLD") is a generic top-level domain using the name of or invoking an association with a geographical, geopolitical, ethnic, linguistic or cultural community. As of 2009, only two GeoTLDs existed: the sponsored domains codice_68, for the Catalan language and culture and codice_69; as of 2014 there were many more, including codice_70, codice_71, codice_72 and codice_73, but many others are being added regularly.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Brands have also applied to get their brand as a top-level domain. Specification 13 is an addendum to the registry contract that describes specific provisions to brands to run their Top Level Domain in a closed fashion. 517 applications to qualify to Spec 13 were made to ICANN, 36 requests were rejected by ICANN or withdrawn by the applicant, 4 are pending review.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: In 2018, Spamhaus rated .men as the worst top-level domain in terms of spam and scamming. .men comes top with 60.6% of its 73,000 domains identified as "bad", resulting in a badness index of 6.48. The company that runs .men, Famous Four Media also runs the third worst registry - .loan – with 59 per cent bad domains and a 6.22 index.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The new generic top level domain (gTLD) application system opened on January 12, 2012. The application window was initially to close on April 12, 2012. However ICANN's Chief Operating Officer, Akram Atallah, stated there was a glitch in the TLD application system leaving applicants' information visible to others. The system was shut down to protect applicants' information, and measures were taken to resolve the situation.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: ICANN re-opened the TLD Application System on May 21, allowing applicants to submit and review their applications until May 30, 2012.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: On "Reveal Day" June 13, 2012, it was announced that ICANN received about 1,930 applications for new gTLDs, 751 of which were contested.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: It was expected for the new gTLDs to go live in June 2013. However, as of March 2013 only non Latin domains have gone through Initial Evaluation. The updated timeline suggested the new TLDs will go live in November 2013. On November 26, first seven new generic top-level domains, .bike, .clothing, .guru, .holdings, .plumbing, .singles, and .ventures, have entered the Sunrise period.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: A lottery was held in December 2012 to determine the order in which ICANN would evaluate the 1,930 applications.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: After the Application Window there was a public comment period from June 13, 2012, to September 26, 2012, in which the public could express their views on the individual new gTLD applications submitted.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Concerns were raised over Closed Generic applications in which the applicant would be the sole registrant for the TLD. In particular objections were raised by publishers over Amazon's .book application.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Of the technology giants, Google has filed for 101 new gTLDs, Amazon comes 2nd with 76, and Microsoft has filed for 11. The more specialized domain name companies include Donuts submitting the most (307) applications and Uniregistry pursuing 54 gTLDs.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: On July 15, 2013, the first four new gTLD agreements were signed in Durban, South Africa. They all consisted of Top Level Domains in non-Latin characters:


title: Generic top-level domain

text: The most popular gTLD has been .guru, launched in February 2014 and reaching 50,000 domains in April 2014, briefly surpassed by .club between June 2 and June 9, 2014, with around 55,000 domains; .club was then surpassed by .xyz, which had more than 300,000 domains after one and a half months of existence. The growth of .xyz has been concentrated on one registrar due to a promotion they ran. Recently, SBI bank has started using gTLD as "Bank.SBI" on February 20, 2017.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Some browsers and software applications do not properly recognize new gTLDs as top-level domains. For example, some browsers do not recognize many new gTLDs and instead treat them as a search query. Prefixing the domain with "http://", or including a trailing slash, will usually force the browser to perform a DNS lookup rather than a search.


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Following the vote to expand gTLDs, many trade associations and large companies, led by the Association of National Advertisers, formed the Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight. The coalition opposes the expansion of gTLDs, citing "its deeply flawed justification, excessive cost and harm to brand owners." In a statement to the US Congress on December 9, 2011, National Restaurant Association vice president Scott DeFife stated, "Even beyond the financial toll the gTLD program will exact on millions of U.S. businesses, the Association believes that ICANN’s program will confuse consumers by spreading Internet searches across hundreds or even thousands of new top-level domains."


title: Generic top-level domain

text: Another opponent is Esther Dyson, the founding chairwoman of ICANN, who wrote that the expansion "will create jobs [for lawyers, marketers and others] but little extra value."


title: Great Officers of State (United Kingdom)

text: In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional ministers of the Crown who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions or to operate as members of the government. Separate Great Officers exist for England and Wales, Scotland, and formerly for Ireland, though some exist for Great Britain and the United Kingdom as a whole.


text: Initially after the Norman Conquest, England adopted the officers from the Normandy Ducal court (which was modelled after the French court) with a steward, chamberlain and constable. Initially having household and governmental duties, some of these officers later split into two counterparts in Great Officer of the State and officer of the royal household, while other officers were superseded by new officers or absorbed by existing officers. This was due to many of the officers becoming hereditary due to feudalistic practices, and thus removed from the practical operation of either the state or the Royal Household. The Great Officers then gradually expanded to cover multiple duties, and have now become largely ceremonial.


text: The Lord High Steward (formally the "Lord High Steward of England") has the sole power to preside over the impeachment trials of peers, the last of which happened in 1806. This procedure was abolished in 1948, thus ceasing their functions in the House of Lords, though this duty, in felony trials, was exercised by the Lord High Chancellor (in general). The most visible duty of the Lord High Steward, even though purely ceremonial, is bearing St Edward's Crown at the coronations of monarchs.


text: The Lord High Stewardship was held by the Earls of Leicester until 1399, when it was merged into the Crown. Since 1421, the office is vested during coronations (and in the past for the trial of peers), and is otherwise left vacant.


text: The Lord Chancellor (formally the "Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain") is the most important of the Great Officers: he is the cabinet minister responsible for the Ministry of Justice (formerly the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department for Constitutional Affairs) and formally the Keeper of the Great Seal. The office is always held by His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Justice. Historically, the Chancellor has enjoyed duties pertaining to the judiciary, and in the past he was the presiding officer of the House of Lords, and was made a peer if not already one, though since 2007, only commoners have been appointed to the office.


text: The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal was generally a temporary position to handle the great seal until the appointment of a new High Chancellor or for a non-noble appointment. Eventually, the Keeper was granted the same status as the Chancellor. By the late 1700s, the Lord Keeper's role was merged into the Chancellorship itself. Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal may be appointed to exercise the office of Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor is assisted in his responsibility as custodian of the Great Seal by the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery and the Crown Office.


text: The Chief Justiciar (which superseded the Lord High Steward) was once ranked above the Lord High Chancellor in power, influence and dignity until 1231 when the position lost its standing in the Kingdom. With the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lord Chancellor has been replaced in some roles by Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales as head of the judiciary and Lord Speaker as chair of the House of Lords.


text: The Lord High Treasurer (formally the "Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom"), is responsible for government finances and spending. The office has been vacant since the death of Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury in 1714.


text: With the passing of the Consolidated Fund Act 1816, the offices of Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain (who in turn held the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain) and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland were merged into that of the Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom. The Act also enabled His Majesty to put the two offices in commission, granting the powers of the Lord High Treasurer to the said commission (the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury). Contrary to popular belief, the commission is upon the offices of Treasurer of the Exchequer and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, and not on the Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom. The Commissioners include the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who act as First Lord and Second Lord of the Treasury, respectively, with other junior government whips serving as junior lords.


text: The Lord President of the Council presides over the His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, otherwise known as the Privy Council, though different governments have given the office various other duties (like Churchill did after the Second World War). Since 1951, the office has been usually held by either Leader of the House of Commons and the Leader of the House of Lords, with the other serving as Lord Privy Seal, though the office can be given to other high-ranking government ministers.


text: The Lord Privy Seal (formally the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is responsible for the monarch's privy seal, until the use of such seal became obsolete, and is now considered a sinecure position, usually granted to the Leader of either House of Parliament.


text: The Lord Great Chamberlain (formally the "Lord Great Chamberlain of England") originally had financial duties pertaining to the royal Court, though these duties have now been assumed by the Lord High Treasurer. The Chamberlain also has charge of the Palace of Westminster (working within the House of Lords), and is responsible for arrangements during the State Opening of Parliament, a role which he shares with the Earl Marshal.


text: The office was originally held by the Earls of Oxford. Later, however, the Chamberlainship came to be inherited by the Earl of Lindsey and then his multiple heirs, who later became the Dukes of Ancaster and Kesteven. The 3rd Duke left two daughters as heirs. The House of Lords ruled that the two sisters were jointly Lord Great Chamberlain and could appoint a Deputy to fulfil the functions of the office. The same ruling came in 1902 for the then joint office holders, the 1st Earl of Ancaster, the 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and the 1st Earl Carrington. In 1912, an agreement was reached, that the office should rotate every reign amongst themselves and their heirs, with the Cholmondeleys serving every other reign, and the heirs of Ancaster and Carrington every four reigns each.


text: The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, but the Act provided that the Lord Great Chamberlain and Earl Marshal be exempt from such a rule, so that they may continue to carry out their ceremonial functions in the House.


text: The Lord High Constable (formally the "Lord High Constable of England") was the commander of the royal armies and the Master of the Horse, and, in conjunction with the Earl Marshal, president of the Court of Chivalry or Court of Honour. The office was originally inherited by the Earls of Hereford, though it reverted to the Crown in 1512 on the attainder of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, and is now only reinstated for the day of a coronation (where he commands the whole of the coronation troops). The Marshal of England assumed the place of the Constable in the royal palace in the command of the royal armies.


text: The Earl Marshal (formally the "Earl Marshal of England"), held in conjunction with the office Marshal of England, was originally responsible for the monarch's horses and stables, as well as taking charge over the royal armies; these duties were shared with the Constable. His duties evolved to ceremonial responsibilities in regards to the organisation of major ceremonial state occasions, most notably coronations, state funerals, and the State Opening of Parliament.


text: The Earl Marshal also remains to have charge over the College of Arms, and issues warrants for the grant of arms in England, Wales and Ireland. His Majesty's High Court of Chivalry, with jurisdiction over all matters relating to heraldry, is presided over by the Earl Marshal.


text: The Lord High Admiral (formally the "Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom") is the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy, holding no command at sea, but rather jurisdiction over maritime affairs, including courts. The office is vested in the Crown, who may otherwise dispense it to other individuals (mainly members of the Royal Family), or put it under commission (historically the Board of Admiralty, 1708 to 1964).


text: The term "officer of state" is sometimes used loosely of any great office under the Crown. As in England, many offices are hereditary. A number of historical offices ended at or soon after the Treaty of Union 1707. There are also a number of Officers of the Crown and Great Officers of the Royal Household. These Officers of State were also called "Officers of the Crown" despite there being a separate group of officers so named that are not officers of state, and unlike the officers of state, did not sit or vote in meetings.


text: After the abolition of the Mayor of the Palace, France established seven officers of the crown (ordered by rank): the high constable, the high admiral, the high or great chancellor, the great justiciar, the great chamberlain, the great protonotary, and the great steward or seneschal. These offices were duplicated in the Kingdom of Scotland. By the time of King Malcolm II, the great protonotary was extinct and the great justiciar was replaced by the lord justice general.


text: The post of High Constable is held by the Earls of Erroll. Originally, the heads of the Keith family held the office of Earl Marischal, but in 1716, the holder was attainted for treason, and the office has not been regranted. The Dukes of Argyll are the Hereditary Masters of the Household. All other officers are Crown appointees. Many of these offices, though originally associated with political power, are only ceremonial now.


text: The remaining officers are related to Scotland's judiciary. The Lord Justice General was originally an important noble, though in the 19th century, the office was combined with that of Lord President of the Court of Session. Now, the Lord Justice General is the head of Scotland's judiciary. The Lord Clerk Register is an officer with miscellaneous functions that included conducting the elections of representative peers and registering births and deaths. The Lord Advocate is at the head of the law offices of Scotland; all prosecutors act in his name. The Lord Justice Clerk serves as a deputy of the Lord Justice General. Finally, the Lord Lyon King of Arms is the sole judge in the Lyon Court, which determines cases relating to heraldry.


text: Previous to the Union of 1707 there were eight total officers of state, four great officers and four lesser officers. This limited by an act of parliament, such that the 2 officers of state, Comptroller and Master of the Requests, were merged with Lord High Treasurer and Lord Secretary respectively. The greater officers were the Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Treasurer, Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Secretary. The lesser officers were the Lord Register, the Lord Advocate, the Lord Treasurer-depute, and the Lord Justice Clerk with the Lord Register the only one fixed in precedency.


text: A number of offices ended at or soon after the Union of 1707. These include the High Chancellor, the High Treasurer, the Treasurer-depute of Scotland, the Secretary of State, Scotland, the Master of Requests and the President of the Privy Council.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Paulina Susana Rubio Dosamantes (; born 17 June 1971) is a Mexican singer. Referred to as "The Golden Girl" and "Queen of Latin Pop", she first achieved recognition as a member of the successful pop group Timbiriche from 1982 through 1991. After leaving Timbiriche, she embarked on a solo career. Rubio has sold over 15 million records, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Rubio's first two studio albums, "La Chica Dorada" (1992) and "24 Kilates" (1993), were commercial successes and made her then EMI Latin's best-selling Mexican female artist. In the mid-1990s, she adopted a more mature and electronic style for her next two albums, "El Tiempo Es Oro" (1995) and Planeta Paulina (1996), and made her feature film debut with a starring role in "Bésame en la Boca" (1995). Following a series of concerts with Timbiriche and ending her contract with EMI Latin, Rubio's career was interrupted before the release of her fifth album and first with Universal Music Group, the homonym "Paulina" (2000), which is critically referred to as her best album. "Paulina" was an international success and made her the best-selling Latin music artist of the "Billboard" Year-End (2001-2002). She returned to the top of the charts again with her sixth and seventh albums, the crossover "Border Girl" (2002) and "Pau-Latina" (2004), respectively. Rubio garnered critical praise, including nominations for the Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award. Her next albums, "Ananda" (2006) and "Gran City Pop" (2009), were also critically and commercially successful. She followed it with "Brava!" (2011), which delved into American dance-pop.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Early of 2010's years, Rubio stood out for participating as a coach in the most important talent shows in America and Spain. In 2012, she served as a coach on the second season of "La Voz... Mexico". In 2013; Rubio became a coach on "La Voz Kids", and also became a judge on the American version of "The X Factor". In 2019, during the promotion of her eleventh studio album, "Deseo" (2018), she returned on "La Voz... España" and "La Voz Senior".


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Rubio has scored three number one albums on the "Billboard" Top Latin Albums. Five of Rubio's singles have reached number one on the US "Billboard" Hot Latin Songs: "Te Quise Tanto", "Dame Otro Tequila", "Ni Una Sola Palabra", "Causa Y Efecto", and "Me Gustas Tanto", making her the fifth best performing female artist on the chart. Other singles, "Mío", "Y Yo Sigo Aquí" and "Don't Say Goodbye", topped the charts in most Hispanic countries. Rubio has earned numerous awards and accolades, including seven "Billboard" Latin Music Award; five Lo Nuestro Awards; three MTV Latinoamerica Awards; and two Telehit Awards, including the Trajectory Award; and a special accolade as "Mexican artist with the greatest international projection".


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Rubio is regarded as a pop icon and is credited Latin pop era-defining during the 2000s. As one of the most influential female Mexican artists, she was included twice in 2012 and 2013 among the "50 Most Powerful Women in Mexico" by "Forbes" Mexico. Additionally she was included in their "Celebrity 100: Twitter's most-followed superstars" list in 2015. In 2008, Univision ranked her among the most powerful Latin celebrities in the United States and as one of the Greatest Latin Artists of All Time by "Billboard" in 2020.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Paulina Susana Rubio Dosamantes was born on 17 June 1971 in Mexico City. Her father, Enrique Rubio González (1932–2011), was a Spanish-born lawyer; Her mother was Susana Dosamantes (1948–2022), a consecrated Mexican actress. Dosamantes had lived in Guadalajara, Jalisco until adolescence when she decided to become a film actress and, just before Rubio's birth, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1970s in Mexico. Rubio's younger brother, Enrique Rubio Jr., is an important lawyer and socialite, while her half sister Ana Paola Rubio is keeping out of the spotlight. Her musical legacy comes from his grandmother and great-grandmother, who were a mezzo-soprano singer and pianist, respectively. Her great-grandparents were originally from Spain and Portugal, and from a very young age she used to spend two or three months a year in Europe, visiting relatives. The rest of the year she resided between Mexico and Los Angeles. As a little girl "grew up in the middle of an artistic world surrounded by cameras, lights and sets."


title: Paulina Rubio

text: As Rubio has stated of herself: "I've been famous since I was born", due to the commotion that her birth caused, as she was the daughter of one of the most consecrated actresses in Mexico. According to her mother, Rubio grew up among arts media and the filming locations, while she worked. First Rubio's appearance in a film was the early 1980s, when accompanied by younger brother, she got a minor role in film "El Día del Compadre". Also was taking singing, acting, jazz, painting, and dance lessons while enrolled at what is now the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA) in Mexico in 1980. After two years there, Rubio's parents were contacted by producers Julisa and Guillermo del Bosque to they approval of Rubio's joining on a musical band formed by children from the CEA. They were puzzled by Julissa and Guillermo del Bosque's request. Later, Rubio told them "I did the casting without notifying you". Despite Susana and Enrique's dissatisfaction, they reached an agreement with their daughter to be part of the children's musical band, with the condition she got "a grade of nine in the school."


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Rubio began her singing career as a 9-year-old, when then children's band Timbiriche made its official debut on 30 April 1982 on the Mexican television show "Siempre en Domingo", featuring Spanish singer Miguel Bosé as its "artistic godfather". The first song they performed was "Don Diablo" with Bosé. The band's name refers to the a paper-and-pencil game of mathematical structure (known in the United States as Dots and Boxes), and the idea of naming the musical group was a response to the Spanish children's musical group Parchís, whose name is also inspired by a table game. Timbiriche was initially made up of Mariana Garza, Alix Bauer, Diego Schoening and Rubio, and they were eventually joined by Benny Ibarra and Sasha Sokol. Mexican actress and producer Martha Zavaleta was in charge to recruiting the group of children, who were part of the children's area of the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA). The six children were formed by the major Latin American mass media corporation Televisa with Televisa's producers Victor Hugo O'Farril, Luis de Llano Macedo and María Eugenia "La Gorda" Galindo as part of Timbiriche's team creative.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Timbiriche's first homonym albums ("Timbiriche" and "La Banda Timbiriche") released through Fonovisa Records in 1982 was a success in Mexico. They were known as a children's band and songs like "Somos Amigos", "Hoy Tengo Que Decirte Papá", "Mamá" and "México" was successful on the radio. In 1983 Timbiriche went on their first international tour and released the first live album "En Concierto". One of the selected songs was a cover version of the song "Mickey" by Tony Basil. The track was chosen because it was one of the most popular in the tour's performances. "En Concierto" was gold-certified and marked the debut of the Timbiriche's seventh member Erik Rubin. The third studio album, "Disco Ruido", released in December 1983, continued with the same concept line of children's songs, but rock-style influences.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: In 1984, Timbiriche participated in the musical "Vaselina", a Spanish-language adaptation of the American musical "Grease"; The band record a studio album inspired from the musical, and is known to be the last "child type" record of the group. It was the first act of Rubio on a professional musical theatre, she performed the rol of Licha, and sang solo a Spanish version of "Freddy, My Love". The band members became teenagers idols in Mexico, but for Rubio it implied pressure to look much older than he really was. Rubio has stated that at 13 years of age "I wanted to grow up and look tall, and have big eyelashes" because unlike her groupmates she looked much thinner and shorter. She confessed to having suffered bullying in Timbiriche and felt like "the ugly duckling" of the band.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: "Timbiriche Rock Show", released on 1 July 1985, marked the "teenage transition" of the band, with lyrics more aimed at teenagers and sounds more pop-rock mainstream. The album contains Spanish-language covers of notable pop hits during the 1980s. It was certified gold and spawned several hit singles, including "Soy un Desastre", "Corro, Vuelo, Me Acelero", "Teléfono" and "Me Plantó", which established the group as a viable act in the music industry. Rubio totally changed her image during that time, leaving her innocent and childish style to a more "rocker" style, and sporting voluminous and large hair-dos. When the promotion of "Timbiriche Rock Show" ended in the summer of 1986, two founding members of Timbiriche left and two new ones entered, which marked a change in the line-up. It was reflected in the album "Timbiriche VII", released on 29 June 1987. The pop-rock style record was a massive success in Latin America, selling 1 million copies and becoming one of the best-selling Mexican albums of all time. The record features some of the group's most widely known songs such as "Mírame (Cuestión de Tiempo)" and "Con Todos Menos Conmigo".


title: Paulina Rubio

text: When the double-album "Timbiriche VIII & IX" was released in May 1988, Rubio become as one of the most notorious members and her voice exced in songs such as "Rompecabezas", "Soy Como Soy", "Me Estoy Volviendo Loca" and "Acelerar", which was number one in Mexico charts. The album sold 500,000 copies, and the number-one hit, "Tú Y Yo Somos Uno Mismo", appears in the number two position on the list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the 80's in Spanish", count realized by VH1. In summer 1988, while Timbiriche promotion the albums, Rubio landed a major role in the Televisa telenovela, "Pasión y Poder", marks her debut on a TV production. "Timbiriche X", the final album of Rubio recorded as a member of Timbiriche was released in early 1990 and despite the fact that she was already the leader of the group, she left the group to focus on a solo career.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: During an interview to Mexican TV show Galardon a los Grandes in summer 1991, Rubio said that she would travel to Spain to record her first solo album. She anticipated want to show "fresh music for a very broad market.", and also announced she would film her second telenovela at the end of that year. During that time, Rubio began a relationship with her ex-fellow from Timbiriche, Erik Rubin. The romance received intense attention from the media, since Rubin had recently broken up with Mexican singer Alejandra Guzman, who said in different media "he broke-up with me for she [Rubio]." Guzman released the song "Hey Güera", and the media speculated that the song was about Rubio. Eventually, she confirmed it.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: The Televisa's telenovela "Baila Conmigo" was aired on 30 March 1992. It based in the late 50s and early 60s at the time of "Rock and Roll era". She played the role of Andrea de la Reguera, a rich and capricious girl who was used to having everything at her disposal. Her leading role as an antagonist turned out to be very convincing to the press and audience, earning positive reviews for her performance. The telenovela producer was Luis de Llano, who recruited a cast of youth stars who were just beginning their solo career in music and acting. The success of "Baila Conmigo" gave the protagonists the possibility of recording a special album and received 9 nominations for the 1993 TVyNovelas Awards, including "Actress Revelation" for Rubio. Also a "soundtrack" was released under the Fonovisa Records label of ten songs in some Latin American countries. Rubio along with the cast of the telenovela appeared in different television shows to promote the album.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Rubio embarked recording studio sessions in Spain in fall 1991 to early 1992 with the Spanish producer Miguel Blasco and the songwriters José Ramón Flórez and Cesar Valle; The last two began writing songs together. After her returned to Mexico, Rubio promoted the concept of her debut album through marketing in the media and magazines. In June 1992, Rubio signed to a recording contract with Capitol Latin, and her first single was released on 30 August 1992. "Mío" spent several weeks at number one on the Mexican singles charts and became one of the country's best selling single in the 1990s and was certified gold. In United States, the song reached number three on the "Billboard's" Hot Latin Tracks chart. Its success resulted in Rubio becoming Timbiriche's first solo singer to enter "Billboard" charts with great success and repeated the formula at the release of her debut album "La Chica Dorada", who released in October 1992, and peak at number three on the "Billboard" Top Latin Albums chart on the week of 26 June 1993. Rubio made her first television appearance performing on the legendary TV show "Siempre en Domingo" with Raúl Velasco to publicize his new stage in the music industry. The famous television host commented "it was a great privilege to have presented Paulina as a solo singer".


title: Paulina Rubio

text: In the midst of the success, "Mío" was the subject of controversy due the media speculated that the song was a response to "Hey Güera" by Alejandra Guzman. Several media rated the song as part a love triangle. As well, at the beginning her solo career, several media critics Rubio's image style, comparing like a "Madonna wannabe", but with the polarized critics, Rubio was praised as the new youth pop icon in Mexico. "La Chica Dorada" yielded three top-ten singles on the "Billboard" Hot Latin Songs, "Mío", "Abriendo Las Puertas Al Amor" and "Amor De Mujer". The album was certified triple gold in Mexico and eventually sold 450,000 copies in there. In March 1993, Rubio received two nominations at the Lo Nuestro Awards for the categories Female Pop Artist and New Pop Artist of the Year. The album promotion culminated with the fourth single "Sabor A Miel" and a promotional tour throughout Mexico and Latin America.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: Fall 1993, Paulina Rubio's popularity continued to rise with the release of her second studio album, "24 Kilates". The pop-rock-oriented album sold 150,000 copies only before of its release. It was certified platinum, but did not appear on the "Billboard" charts. The album's first single, "Nieva, Nieva", topped Mexico top airplay chart and reached number twenty-seven on the "Billboard" Hot Latin Tracks. Beginning in January 1994, Rubio embarked on a concert tour in Latin America. She formed part of the invited judging panel of Viña del Mar International Song Festival and made a short performance, for which she received the Naranja Award. At that time, she released two more hits, "Él Me Engañó" and "Asunto De Dos", making all three singles from the album peak inside the top twenty on Mexico top airplay chart. "Vuelve Junto A Mí", the by demand-single, was released only in the U.S. and peaked inside the top twenty on the "Billboard" Hot Latin Tracks.


title: Paulina Rubio

text: In March 1995, Rubio released her third studio album, "El Tiempo Es Oro", and was described as "rhythmic and danceable", but "in the same concept line [of Golden Girl]" than her previous albums. The album managed to sell 300,00 copies worldwide. The lead single, "Te Daría Mi Vida", sold 140,000 copies between Mexico and United States, subsequent singles "Nada De Ti" and "Hoy Te Dejé De Amar" both reached the top ten airplay in Mexico. The album was her first record released in Spain and Brazil, and Rubio did a performed as a special guest in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. She appeared in different magazines in Spain to become known as a singer, but the media highly publicized her relationship with the Spanish architect and socialite Ricardo Bofill, son of the Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura's founder. The romance received intense attention from the European media, since Bofill had recently broken up with journalist Chabeli Iglesias (daughter of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias) who was still marrie with him at the time.