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lingshanhermit · 1 year ago

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Lingshan Hermit: On the Difference Between Eastern and Western Cultures

Max Weber said, "Confucian culture is not a practical study, but only a set of value systems for maintaining social order. Schools did not teach mathematics, natural science or geography, and the people they cultivated had no logical creativity." As you know, this is not the first time I have brought out Max Weber to criticize, and certainly it won't be the last. As far as I know, Weber's view is no longer solely his own today, and this understanding has already become the consensus of many in academia. As for the general public, although they know almost nothing about Confucianism, this does not prevent them from holding similar views.

In my last discussion about Max Weber, I talked about what constitutes useful knowledge. This time I intend to talk about the origins, differences and foundations of Chinese and Western cultures. For a long time, I have always wanted to write an article on the differences between Chinese and Western cultures. To be blunt, in my range of reading over the years, I have hardly seen anyone who could really articulate Chinese culture clearly. In recent years, I have been observing the culture left behind by the Eastern sages and observing its effects on the Chinese people, observing its application in East Asian life. I have also been observing Western society and Western culture. This kind of observation has sometimes provoked in me a strong sadness - especially when I see many Orientals who completely misunderstand and strongly reject Eastern culture. This also gives me a stronger motivation to write this article.

From the perspective of modern utilitarianism, traditional Chinese culture seems to be completely useless - or more precisely, useless. According to modern definitions of "usefulness", Eastern traditional culture has hardly invented anything that you would consider useful. It has no irons, no Uber software, no instant coffee or mechanical keyboards. Chinese society has also not nurtured a Faraday or a Rutherford. From an empiricist point of view, you do not see anyone becoming a Buddha or gaining immortality, nor do you see the gentleman advocated by Confucianism. On the contrary, you do tend to see many hypocrites. Therefore, many people come to the preposterous conclusion that traditional culture is completely fraudulent. For most ordinary people, these traditional cultures are of almost no help at all to their daily lives - most people believe that they are just a bunch of big, empty and useless words. The states described in traditional culture are like living in the clouds, completely disconnected from people's real lives. They require people to do things that are simply impossible. They are not like the Talmud, which points out every aspect of life, even telling you what time you should get up, what kind of wife you should marry, and whose money you should earn. When you encounter specific problems, you go to a psychologist or lawyer, not to Confucius or Mencius, because for the masses, their words are too vague and of no practical help in real life. Because they cannot be applied or connected concretely with one’s own life, most humans living in 2023 do not feel that the teachings of Confucianism (or Buddhism and Taoism) are of any help to their lives. Compared with the words of Confucius, they feel that capsule coffee machines and KFC discount coupons are somewhat more useful.

It is not surprising that this is the result. And the reason this result occurs is because these teachings were not written for the general public - they were not written for housewives or undergraduate business students. Whether it is the Daodejing or the Analects, they were written for people who truly want to explore the truth. So if you try to use them to solve your specific life problems, you will probably only end up disappointed. For most ordinary people, it is very difficult to directly apply these teachings to solve your problems, because they are too profound. Whether it is the Nanhua Jing or The Great Learning, the words recorded in them all come from enlightened beings of varying degrees - they are the experiences and insights of the enlightened. For ordinary people, it is impossible to correctly understand these words, let alone apply them. These words need to be decoded by people with corresponding spiritual accomplishments and wisdom, who can then refer to your specific situation and tell you what to do - only by going through this process can you possibly apply them to your own life and benefit from them, and only then can you slowly understand what these books are actually talking about. Unfortunately, this process has not been systematically established in East Asian societies. Only a very small number of fortunate individuals have the opportunity to glimpse the essence of Chinese culture in this way. Because of the lack of this system, when the masses are faced with the teachings of the sages, they can only attempt to approach the thoughts of the sages through their own way of thinking - it's like guessing riddles. In traditional Chinese society, you are required to repeatedly read the works of the sages until you know them by heart. Those teachers probably assumed that just by becoming thoroughly familiar with Confucius' books, people could slowly understand his state of mind. But obviously, this is just wishful thinking by amateurs. In the systems of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, even Confucius' relatively basic words cannot be understood without the corresponding cultivation state, especially when nothing but a goal is provided. So hypocrisy became the only choice for most people.

In the eyes of modern intellectuals, traditional culture is completely deceptive and useless, because traditional culture did not invent computers or Thompson submachine guns - it just puts forward a whole set of moral norms that they see as completely useless. In their opinion, these moral norms also did not work, they did not make everyone better, but rather turned everyone into hypocrites, teaching everyone to lie and pretend. So from their point of view, Confucian teachings are simply fraudulent things, a set of shackles that restrict human nature and freedom, completely contrary to human nature.

If I were not a spiritual cultivator, if I did not know the relationship between the whole Confucian system and spiritual cultivation, if I had received systematic modern academic education, if I could not break free from the shackles of modern civilization, I would probably agree with their thinking and also believe that traditional culture is completely worthless.

Judging from the practical results of Confucianism in Eastern societies, it is not suitable for large-scale popularization. I have always believed that for ordinary people, it is better not to provide them with incomplete, hierarchical teachings, but to let them construct their secular lives perfectly. One day, when they find that secular life cannot provide what they want, when they become weary of secular life, it will not be too late to start spiritual exploration. I think this would be better, rather than forcing teachings onto everyone's lives as Confucianism did by means of power. Telling everyone how they should be, what kind of people they should be, what they should do, but not providing the corresponding logical systems and concrete steps to become such a person. This makes their requirements seem extremely unreasonable. But because of the intervention of power, the public has no choice but to accept it. However, they do not understand the logic and benefits of doing so. They are simply required to do so, but cannot achieve it, so they can only pretend to be such people, resulting in widespread hypocrisy. (Confucian scholars after Confucius did not realize that what Confucius demonstrated was the result of his own cultivation - those states are by no means accessible to ordinary people simply by reading the Analects repeatedly. You cannot require a person to read Confucius' teachings and immediately achieve Confucius' level of understanding attained after decades of cultivation, especially when nothing but a goal is provided.)

I seem to be criticizing Confucianism for not providing comprehensive services for its theories, but I am actually very clear that it would be completely impossible to provide specific and comprehensive education for everyone - no one could possibly do that.

Few people know how much wisdom it takes to teach the Dharma in a way that makes it comprehensible to everyone, and few people know what kind of enlightenment and skill a person must possess in order to teach according to the disposition of the student. Even in Buddhism, such people are extremely rare. Therefore, it is too much to ask those Confucian scholars who simply read books to do these things. In China's long history, there has always been a lack of people who could link traditional culture with real-life situations - this requires a high degree of enlightenment and skillfulness. Therefore, even if it was Confucianism's wish, it would have been completely impossible for them to achieve. Even in Buddhism, people of such talent are extremely scarce, so most practitioners neither receive suitable teachings for themselves, nor sufficient explanation. Most of the time, they can only arbitrarily understand the teacher's words based on their own state of mind. This gives demons ample room to distort everything they hear.

We just said that Chinese sages had no interest in building a sound secular society. Chinese traditional culture does not aim to establish a perfect secular society. Those systems dedicated to building a perfect secular society live under one assumption: that we only have this one life; that the more we gain, the happier we become; that if we establish a perfect secular society, we will be happy; that if supervision is in place, crime will know difficulties and retreat; that if we improve all our laws, our suffering will decrease or disappear; that if we can manufacture a drug that can treat all diseases, we will no longer suffer from illness. Judging from the huge changes that have taken place in American society in just the past few years, their assumptions are collapsing one by one. These assumptions made by Westerners seem extremely naive from the perspective of Chinese sages. Chinese sages do not agree with their way of thinking. So they did not try to create artificial intelligence, did not try to contact aliens, did not strive to develop AIDS medications, and did not design systems to contain human greed either. They just taught us ways to improve ourselves, starting by observing the problems inherent within us, slowly understanding the root causes of suffering, understanding the composition of suffering, understanding which behaviors and speech lead to suffering, which notions lead to suffering, and then slowly correcting past notions and slowly arriving at the state of liberation.

A true spiritual practitioner, most of his or her cultivation occurs internally, which means that true cultivation involves storms occurring internally - externally, it is almost impossible for outsiders to discern the internal changes happening within a practitioner. What you would probably see is that the person doesn't seem to do anything, just sitting there all day, or chanting some "useless" mantras. Therefore, for the general public, it is almost an impossible task to verify the results of their cultivation. The public does not know what they have attained, what experiences they have had, what feelings they have experienced. Those ascetics by the Ganges River in India and those meditating in the Himalayan mountains seem to modern civilization’s slaves to be doing completely meaningless things - they might even be considered cunning lazybones. But from the perspective of those practitioners, the elites who show up in office buildings every day in neatly dressed suits live meaningless lives: they are about to die, yet still working hard to accumulate things that will soon no longer belong to them.

Just like Indian culture, Chinese culture also largely transcends the sphere of comprehension of modern civilization. From the perspective of the general public, they can hardly see any useful results. Most people cannot see the achievements of those who truly practice Eastern traditional culture - after all, their accomplishments are not as self-evident as those of Elon Musk. Even if you sit face to face with an enlightened being, you cannot experience their state; you have no way of knowing what they have realized. You might even feel that they look no different from your average middle-aged neighbor. Therefore, for the masses, traditional cultural practitioners are far less attractive than Musk. After all, the latter's achievements are embodied in piles of dollars. And among those who claim to be practitioners, there may also be a large number of imposters mixed in. Do not expect the masses to be able to distinguish between imposters and true practitioners - they will simply lump them together.

For the general public, it is almost impossible to verify the efficacy of traditional culture. On the one hand, few people can persist for long periods of time doing something when they cannot see results. On the other hand, most people also fail to receive proper guidance. For example, there is a saying in Chinese traditional culture that "relinquishing is obtaining". Chinese traditional culture also says that "taking losses is good fortune." But most ordinary people neither know the correct things to relinquish nor how to relinquish them, let alone having enough patience to keep doing it. For the masses, lacking proper guidance and a complete and thorough understanding of the theory, what they do is like throwing fish food into a river and expecting the fish to spontaneously leap in swarms to their feet. Therefore, they can hardly see results - all they see is losses as losses, relinquishing as relinquishing, no gains whatsoever. When they see results like these, they will naturally feel that it was all just a scam. Compared with the efficient, fast-acting and verifiable systems established by the West in secular society, they will naturally feel that this represents a superior civilization.

Someone once asked me: Why does Chinese traditional culture seem to go against people's normal desires in almost every way? In their attitudes toward greed, hatred and ignorance, they unanimously display harsh attitudes. Many modern people see this as a major defect of traditional culture. Western culture, on the other hand, is very tolerant about this, so people feel that kind of culture is more in line with human nature. The reason why Western culture is tolerant in this regard is that Western culture is based on the idea that you are an individual, so you will have various desires and demands that a human being should have, and satisfying these desires is not seen as a sin in modern Western culture. Therefore, going on sea voyages to seek treasures and then leisurely enjoying the yields for a lifetime is a topic that Hollywood never tires of. Hollywood movies have influenced generations of people. Today, the world generally believes that the more you get, the happier you become. They are also willing to take risks in order to gain more. But Eastern traditional culture completely disagrees with this way of thinking. They do not believe that the more you get, the happier you become. They believe that if people do not restrain their desires and are led around by their desires, it will ultimately lead to disaster. Over the years, I have seen many people who do not know how to restrain their desires bring tremendous disasters upon themselves and others. In a sense, they are victims of Hollywood movies. Eastern sages believe that desire is endless. If you open this breach, you will be unable to stop it. The more you want, the more you will be out of control until you eventually destroy yourself. In today's world where Western culture has captivated almost everyone, you can see that the wealth some livestreamers accumulate in a single day is equal to what others earn in decades - they believe they are the lucky ones of the times. From my perspective, I don't think it's a good thing to exhaust all of one’s blessings in a day.

Western culture is based on the existence of a real individual “self”, while Eastern traditional culture, as we have just said - it is a spiritual cultivation culture. This kind of culture is based on the fact that there is no real existence of a “self”. It is based on “satisfying one’s desires does not lead to happiness” (desire only gives rise to more desire, thereby inducing more sin and chaos). It is based on conventional and ultimate truth. Eastern traditional culture is based on these things, so much of the time it looks completely contrary to human nature. (Another reason why it appears contrary to human nature is that most executors lack skillfulness - unwise people will execute everything in a very rigid manner.) Confucianism tries to compress our desires to a certain range in preparation for higher levels of cultivation afterwards. However, since most people living in such a society completely don’t understand this system and the purpose of doing so, they just live in such a society very grudgingly, required to comply with various standards. Like when you require a bunch of ordinary people to do things contrary to their temperament but do not tell them the reasons and benefits of doing so, it is not hard to imagine what would eventually happen - this is the cause of many tragedies. I have always believed that things like the Indian caste system and Confucianism are very good things - if used correctly. Unfortunately, they have not been correctly utilized. They were crudely and excessively applied to the whole of society by people lacking wisdom, causing considerable problems. However, from a technical level, it would also have been very difficult for them to be used correctly - both because of the lack of people capable of using these things properly, and also because demons spare no effort trying to sabotage their implementation. (Just like how some religions started out with the intention of severing the conditions that lead to desire by covering women’s faces, but this method has similarly been condemned because it was applied very foolishly. Demons will not miss any opportunity for sabotage.) When the masses do not know the meaning of the Confucian (or Indian caste) demands placed on them but are still required to implement them, they will only carry them out mechanically. Add to that the demons’ tireless efforts to distort any positive endeavor, various problems will naturally arise over time and surface. When these problems emerge, people will blame them on that culture and it will inevitably have to face accusations from all sides. The tragedy is that people who live in such societies for a long time can only see the downsides while being completely oblivious to the benefits. So they naturally believe that this is a completely useless culture that suppresses human nature and has caused countless tragedies.

If our existence were real, if we would be happier the more we possessed, if we could truly achieve happiness by defeating others, then the whole set of Western logic, values, lifestyles and paths to happiness designed accordingly would be correct. But unfortunately, this is not the case. You only need to understand a little bit of quantum mechanics to know that the way we exist is not as we imagine. However, given that quantum mechanics only emerged in the early 20th century, the West's understanding of ultimate truth has only just begun, so you cannot expect them to immediately produce new ideas for life practices.

After all, their value systems and lifestyles arising from the presumption of a real, independently existing self and the independent existence of all phenomena had already lasted over a thousand years.

So Eastern culture is a spiritual cultivation culture system based on "no-self". Because it is too profound, much of its ideology is not suitable for public dissemination, only an extremely small portion is suitable for the masses. That said, it remains an indispensable part of our lives (I have seen too many tragedies that were caused precisely because the protagonists lacked this kind of culture). Perhaps what we should explore is how to apply these cultures in the most harmless way. Any culture or teaching method, in the hands of people who do not know how to use them properly, will become a disaster. Chinese traditional culture has many different levels and angles, these different levels and angles are methods aimed at different levels of people. For wise and skillful people, these methods can be extremely flexible and humane, they are not absolutely unadjustable. But for people lacking wisdom and skill, it is very easy for them to become a whole set of rigid rules and weapons that harm everyone - this is how many tragedies arise. In the hands of a wise person, it can be used to benefit living beings and guide them to realize ultimate truth; but in the hands of an unwise person, it will only be a weapon to harm others. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, some only provided concepts, some provided complete concepts and methods. These concepts and methods have many different levels and angles. Unfortunately, nowadays these methods of different levels have been jumbled up by people who do not understand them and chaotically interpreted by the masses, which has also caused many problems. Therefore, the tools themselves are not the issue, it is a group of unknowing people operating them haphazardly that has caused problems.

Chinese traditional sages had no intention to establish a sound secular society. They did not want to build vacuum tube trains or migrate to Mars. Similarly, they also lacked interest in making perfect sushi or medical security systems. Compared to these things, they prefer to observe their own minds. Compared with the conquering and defeating of others in Western culture, they prefer to conquer themselves and do battle with their own greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. They achieve ultimate happiness in this way. But from an amateur’s point of view, it may look like they have done nothing, just sitting there and expecting you to serve them meals. Even after attaining accomplishment, they do not produce piles of dollars, so they appear to be quite useless.

Written by the Lingshan Hermit on December 18, 2023. First published December 21, 2023. Revised December 22, 2023.

Copyright Notice：All copyrights of Ling Shan Hermit's articles in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, English, and other languages belong to the natural person who owns "Ling Shan Hermit". Please respect copyright. Publishers, media, or individuals (including but not limited to internet media, websites, personal spaces, Weibo, WeChat public accounts, print media) must obtain authorization from Ling Shan Hermit before use. No modifications to the articles are allowed (including: author's name, title, main text content, and punctuation marks). We reserve all legal rights.

灵山居士：东西文化之辨（修订）

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the-hem · 2 months ago

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"Transmigration." From the Mandukya Karika.

Reincarnation, AKA Transmigration is poorly understood even in the ashrams. Transmigration is the path and purpose the mind follows as it evolves from point A to point B, between what are called kalpas or episodes in one's chosen lifestyle.

Humans who are in need of such evolutionary programming are called Jiva, cultures are called Jagat, and kalpas of gods are called Ishwara.

We used to think of Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior, now we know He is a god of revolution, come to destroy evil as much as elevate the insecure. He is a mechanism God created to destroy all kalpas, like Krishna, Muhammad, and Abraham Lincoln, all who received the will to power to free the oppressed from the Holy Ghost. Wherever there are wars, liars, thieves of time, the corrupt, the Holy Ghost will intervene and try to start a counterclimax to the process.

When even a single mind reaches for the Spirit of the Self, all minds begin to transmigrate. Man is not meant to be enslaved or dominated by the filth. Should this happen, we Vedists believe God will respond and the outcome will be terrible for the wicked.

As the Jewish Hebrew Torah says, the process cannot start without a vision, a dream. The Karika says:

IV-30. If transmigratory existence be beginningless, its termination will not be reached. And liberation will not be eternal, if it has a beginning.

IV-31. That which is non-existent in the beginning and the end is definitely so in the present. The objects, although similar to the unreal, look as though real.

IV-32. Their utility is opposed in dream. Therefore, for the reasons of their having a beginning and an end, they are definitely remembered to be unreal.

IV-33.All objects are unreal in dream, inasmuch as they are seen within the body. In this narrow space, how is the vision of creatures possible ?

IV-34. It is not reasonable to say that objects in dream are seen by (actually) going to them, since it runs counter to the regulation of time that is needed for the journey. Further, none, when awake, remains in the place of dream.

This is Vedanta claptrap which means the moment the mind years for freedom from wickedness and oppression, especially the tyranny of one's own stupidity, time and objects start to become meaningful and communicate the importance of the values of the Self. This cannot be discounted or disobeyed by a true seeker of sooth.

It is Christmas Eve, 2024, and World War III is raging all around us. We are not at all interested in Peace on Earth, or Goodwill Towards Men, Glory to the Most High. We are a planet of hypocrites and fuckups, damned and doomed for not paying attention to what our governors and political antagonists were doing. Poor people and the homeless number in the billions, the climate is over taxed, and there are insufficient hours in the day to fix all the manmade damage we have caused.

Our lives will not become tangible until we start doing the work that addresses the sins of the past and makes straight the way forever. This has always been the dream, today is a good day, the best in fact to begin its transformation into a reality.

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flexible-student-accommodation · 6 months ago

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Is it expensive for students to live in Birmingham, UK?

The students both from the UK and all over the world flock to Birmingham which has been turned into a center of higher education and a place of attraction. Nevertheless, many prospective students are left in a dilemma about the total cost of living in cities all over the country, such as Birmingham since the cost of living keeps on spiraling. The following cost of living summary provides students with information about the expenses encountered in Birmingham and affordability.

Cost of Living Overview

The critical student expenses, such as rent, food, etc., must be understood to know whether Birmingham is affordable or not.

1. PRO: Student Living Costs in Birmingham vs London

The student living costs difference between Birmingham and London is quite significant. The average student rental cost per month in Birmingham is somewhere in the range of £400 - £600, contingent on the spot and the housing type. If destroying the deposits were a less frequent occurrence, London students might manage with £600-£1000 a month.

The description provided by the writer is that in Birmingham, the majority of the money a student would usually spend if he had to live there, goes to housing expenses. Birmingham seems virtually to be exactly the opposite of London, where students must pay a monthly rent of about £600 to £1000 or more.

2. Food and Groceries

The students in Birmingham generally afford food and meals with a minimum of £150 and a maximum of £200 per annum. On the plus side, the city has many low-cost supermarkets and local food markets, where the economy of students can be regulated.

3. Transportation

Listed below is a low-single student rate in one of Birmingham's functional public transport systems. A monthly bus pass is about £50, and for those of you who are cycling enthusiasts, Birmingham cannot help but point out the increasing number of bike lanes to be at ease with. Say, you can communicate with other students while studying a specific chapter in biology.

One of the key advantages offered by Birmingham is a scene that features a wide variety of different cultural attractions and places that are friendly to students. The students' outgoings generally range around ₤100 - ₤150 per month for leisure activities.

Birmingham Compared to Other UK Cities

Let us first understand in practice what the meaning of the affordability of Birmingham is if we compare it to other cities - that are also studying there:

City Average Monthly Living Costs (excluding tuition)

Birmingham £800 - £1,000

Manchester £850 - £1,100

Bristol £900 - £1,200

London £1,200 - £1,800

These figures prove that Birmingham is less expensive for students than many others, especially with the difference in the prevailing costs in London.

Reasons for Birmingham's Affordability

1. The Upward Student Population

Along with five universities and 83,000 students, Birmingham has become a town with all its student needs fully covered. The supply of new student housing is ahead of the demand, keeping prices relatively favorable for the students.

2. Urban Redevelopment

Ongoing projects in the city have helped to redevelop many parts of Birmingham by providing new affordable housing options.

3. An Active Local Economy

The city of Birmingham sustains various economic activities that would allow a student to work and earn at least part of what he needs.

Enjoying Student life in Birmingham to the Fullest

Birmingham being a relatively cheaper place to live is true; however, students can save even more by:

1. Students must be very selective while choosing accommodation: Today, people look for cheaper housing options near the University of Birmingham and avoid expensive areas like Selly Oak and Edgbaston.

2. The Value of Student Discounts: Many businesses and attractions in the area have special student discount rates.

3. The Best of Birmingham: Amongst the different parks, and museums which are free to visit, the city provides a look into low-cost options for the tourists.

4. Dining at home: The greatest possibility of escape from the use of money is possible through preparing at home, not going out to the restaurant.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite lower expenses, students in Birmingham come across some financial problems:

1. Constant rise in energy bills: Like other parts of the UK, the West Midlands area of Birmingham has observed a rise in fuel prices and this may impact the students' budgets.

2. High demand for housing: The most affordable accommodations always get sold out the quickest, hence the demand for early planning.

3. Different costs for different courses: Some courses may require students to pay for materials or field trips.

The Role of Student Accommodation Providers

Since learners require affordable and decent housing for their studies, accommodation suppliers are responsible for a significant part of their university life experience. One organization that is quite noticeable in Birmingham is Uninist.

Uninist: Redefining Student Living

Uninist has clinched its position as a major supplier of affordable student housing in Birmingham City. Their properties are the best near the universities and bus stations, as they are easily accessible and still sell the rooms at low rates.

Uninist is really what makes the difference. Their accommodations, for example, mostly have spaces for the residents to socialize in, study spaces, and often gyms right in the buildings. This allows students to live a good quality of life without spending too much.

Uninist, through close cooperation with universities and local authorities, aims to understand and fulfill the changing needs of students in Birmingham. Their market existence is quite an instrumental contribution to the creation of the right balance between quality and affordability in student housing.

#flexible student accommodation #international students #short term student accommodation #student accommodation #student rooms #student housing #student apartments

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akecindia · 8 months ago

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MBBS in Russia - How Indian Students can choose the Best Medical University?

Are you an Indian aspiring to study MBBS in Russia's best University? Russia is one of the top destinations for Indian students to study MBBS. Some reasons include the competitive and constantly updated MBBS curriculum, excellent academic infrastructure, accommodation, and affordable education. But you cannot simply choose any university. You must make the right choice that adds value to your career. So, here are some factors to consider while choosing the best university for MBBS in Russia.

MBBS in Russia's Best University - How to Choose the Best One?

Russia is home to over 50 universities that offer an MBBS degree approved by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and NMC approved MBBS Colleges in Russia But how do you make the best choice? Here are seven factors to consider while choosing a university in Russia.

1. Global Recognition

One of the first factors to consider is a university's global recognition and if the Medical Council of India approves the university. Recognition from statutory bodies like the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), etc., should form another aspect to check before you make a decision. It's your career. Hence, you must make a right choice.

2. Global and National Ranking

Checking a university's global and national rankings is as essential as its recognition worldwide. Some rankings to look for include Interfax Russia, QS EECA, and QS BRICS. These rankings help determine a university's credibility at the national and global levels. The higher the ranking, the more credible and trustworthy a university is.

3. MBBS Fee in Russia

Many Indian students choose to study MBBS in Russia due to its affordability. But the MBBS fee structure in Russia varies with the university you choose. Federal universities, in particular, are more affordable than state ones. Both are government universities.

However, don't let the fee alone drive your decision. Whether you choose a state government or federal university, look for the value the university offers for its fees. It includes a library, accommodation, food, classrooms, technology, etc. It is worth paying slightly higher fees for a university that offers optimal value.

4. Learning Infrastructure

This is another significant factor in evaluating MBBS universities in Russia. Some vital aspects to look for include the following.

• The language of training, preferably English

• The university's student-teacher ratio for personalized attention

• Classroom methodology and the extent of practical exposure

• Training and learning technology used

• Well-equipped practical labs for more effective experimenting and learning

• Efforts the university makes to develop students' career

• Library facility and Indian books, MCQ's, test series and study material available

You must also check the university's faculty members, their experience, qualifications, achievements, etc. Besides, reviewing the university's extra-curricular activities, like cultural events, sports events etc., can also help you find opportunities to broaden your network and learn about various cultures. In other words, it can help you enhance your personality.

5. Accommodation Facilities

You are about to spend six years studying medicine in Russia. Thus, you cannot discount the significance of the accommodation facilities of a particular university you choose.

The hostel facilities shouldn't necessarily be lavish and opulent. But the hostel should have enough number of adequately sized rooms, separate buildings for boys and girls, a hot water facility, a mini-kitchen to prepare food, etc. In addition, the hostel should have a well- equipped gymnasium, a cafeteria, Wi-Fi, reading rooms, and a laundry facility to take care of your daily needs and allow you to focus more on your studies.

In addition, you must check if the university provides accommodation facilities within its premises or away from it. Regarding the latter, you should look at the distance between the university and your hostel, the transport facilities available, and the time required to commute between the university, hostel, hospitals and other departments.

6. The University's Location

Russia has medical universities spread across multiple cities throughout the country. But considering Russia's perpetually cold climate, not all cities may suit Indian students. Accordingly, you must check the city in which the medical university is situated and its weather. It can take time to adapt to Russia's extremely cold weather. Thus, cities with moderate weather, easier for Indians to adapt to, can form an ideal choice.

7. Student Feedback

This requires some research. You can try and connect with the university's past alumni and gather feedback about the university's educational pedagogy, infrastructure, student support, and overall environment to make an informed decision.

Enroll in the best-suited university to study MBBS in Russia with AK Educational Consultants, India. We are one of the leading organizations helping Indian students study MBBS in some of Russia's top medical universities.

#MBBS in Russia

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transarsonist · 3 years ago

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#just sayin banning homestuck in a discord server is a huge red flag #like idk how to tell you how much of common internet parlance is homestuck references sent through the tumblr telephone game #its 1) impractical 2) not enforcable and 3) just kinda rude tbh #like: my name is a homestuck reference #my username on Most sites is literally a homestuck reference #are you gonna make me change my username hm?#its transArsonist #those of you who Know #you know.#but fact of is that homestuck is a real mixed bag and ill agree a lot of the fans are toxic as hell #and there are large swaths of the media itself that are fucking shit #no argument #but theres also large swaths that manage to explain the human condition in a way that no one seems to have even Attempted before #and its cultural value for that reason cannot be discounted #like its one thing to ban it from your blog or personal discord #but its a whole separate thing to ban it from a public anarchy discord

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rsenvs3000w22 · 3 years ago

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If you’re at all like me, you may have read the quote above and thought, huh? Honestly, at first, I was a bit stumped. I had to come back and read it over a few times before deciding what it meant to me. Like poetry and other art forms that we discussed in Unit 4, I think that this quote can be interpreted differently by everyone.

For me, it was the second half that really stood out. In my mind, this portion is a reminder for all areas of our lives that the past is a valuable place to start when looking at the present. What has occurred in the past cannot be discounted as it contributed to where we are today. Personally, I have always loved history for this reason as the events and choices of the past can be seen throughout aspects of our daily lives.

Rattlesnake Point lookout. Source: https://ontarioconservationareas.ca/

In the context of nature interpretation, the past is crucial for understanding the landscape in terms of both natural history and human history. The best way for me to describe this is through a story of looking out from rattlesnake point as my dad described how the Niagara Escarpment was formed. He told a story of a vast tropical sea 450 million years ago. Years later the sediments comprised of the sea life were compressed by rock. The same region as the climate changed was overlain by glaciers that as they melted and retreated carved away along with the elements leaving behind these cliffs. Interpretation helps us breathe life and meaning into past events and forms values to guide the present (Beck et al., 2019). His story did exactly that as I was astounded and in awe of the area which left me with a deeper connection. The cliffs were no longer only cliffs but a natural wonder that took millions of years to occur.

Eastern white pine plantation in Guelph. Source: https://www.vanwaffle.com/2013/02/02/grace-of-a-white-pine-monoculture/#sthash.2VpYBjZd.dpbs

Similarly, the human history of the landscape plays a role in interpretation. While it is important to remember the happy stories of the past it is equally important to recount the tragic ones (Beck et al., 2019). Interpreting history can help us better understand the impacts of certain actions and hopefully inspire individuals to be agents of change (Beck et al., 2019). For example, we can learn from past human impacts on the landscape. Considering this I am reminded of the tall Eastern white and red pine plantations across Southern Ontario. At the time they were planted it seemed like an efficient policy for future investment in logging and to re-establish the original ecosystem encountered by Europeans. The result was many sterile ecosystems. In a way, I think understanding the history behind these forests you’re bound to encounter serves as a reminder of nature’s complexity and the difficulty to recreate it after its destroyed.

Ontario old growth white pine forest. Source: http://www.ancientforest.org/the-past-isnt-what-it-used-to-be/

Is there a place you visit in which the natural, human, or personal history has given you a deeper connection or understanding?

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing.

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languageandnothingness · 3 years ago

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Logic (Part III)

See Part I and Part II of this series.

Earlier, I discussed what logic is and why it is important. But now I want to talk about the limitations of logic and why the way people talk about “logic” now is highly misleading.

Logic cannot generate knowledge. It only expresses the relationships between sentences. There is no way to use logic alone to deduce facts about history or chemistry. Logic is only partially reflected in the structure of natural (human) languages, and there is a good reason for this: people rarely commit fully to sentences. They have some degree of confidence in them, which may be high or low, but they do not fully commit to them.

There are two classic examples illustrating this. The first is a lottery. If one million lottery tickets are printed and one is the winning ticket, I can point to each ticket and say, “Do you believe that this is not the winning ticket?” You would probably say yes every time. But if I asked whether you believed none of the tickets were winning tickets, you would clearly reply no. Of course, logically, the statement that each ticket is not the winning ticket implies that no ticket is the winning ticket. But even a small amount of doubt can add up over the course of reasoning, and in reality most people are not that confident in most of their beliefs.

The other example (a version of which was actually performed in a psychological experiment) is of three candidates, A, B, and C, running for political office. It is widely believed that A will win the race, B has some chance of winning, and C has almost no chance. Suppose A and C like musicals and C does not. Then most people will believe both of these statements:

(1) Someone who likes musicals will win the race.

(2) If someone who likes musicals wins the race and A does not win the race, C will win the race.

But they do not believe:

(3) If A does not win the race, C will win the race.

Anyone can see that (3) is a logical consequence of (1) and (2)! But because people are uncertain about (1) to begin with, their level of certainty in (3) is very low. Some logicians would argue that no one can believe (3) less than they believe (1) (since (2) is completely certain), relying on an interpretation of “if” that they like: namely, a logician would almost always consider a statement “if P then Q” to be true if P were false (regardless of whether Q is true). You can read more here.

So logic isn’t even very useful in simple, contrived cases. If you think about the uncertainties people encounter all the time, you will see why logic has little to do with how people form beliefs. Sometimes people speak about “logic” in a much broader sense of “reasonableness”. For instance, someone might say that it is illogical or irrational for people to be more willing to buy a product at the same price if they think it is currently at a discount. But it is not clear what this means, and it is good to be wary when people say such things; often, they are fundamentally just relying on cultural norms and behavioral expectations when they make such assertions. This has nothing to do with logic. The value of logic lies in its clarity and its absoluteness; this is why it is so useful when it is useful, and so often useless when employed by humans about uncertain things.

#logic #reason #rationality #philosophy #uncertainty #material conditional #logicalreasoning

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livingdeadinsideyourhead · 4 years ago

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Free Music in a Capitalist Society - Iggy Pop's Keynote Speech Transcript

Hi, I'm Iggy Pop. I've held a steady job at BBC 6 Music now for almost a year, which is a long time in my game. I always hated radio and the jerks who pushed that shit music into my tender mind, with rare exceptions. When I was a boy, I used to sit for hours suffering through the entire US radio top 40 waiting for that one song by The Beatles and the other one by The Kinks. Had there been anything like John Peel available in my Midwestern town I would have been thrilled. So it's an honor to be here. I understand that. I appreciate it.

Some months ago when the idea of this talk came up I thought it might be okay to talk about free music in a Capitalist society. So that's what I'm gonna try to talk about. A society in which the Capitalist system dominates all the others, and seeks their destruction when they get in its way. Since then, the shit has really hit the fan on the subject, thanks to U2 and Apple. I worked half of my life for free. I didn't really think about that one way or the other, until the masters of the record industry kept complaining that I wasn't making them any money. To tell you the truth, when it comes to art, money is an unimportant detail. It just happens to be a huge one unimportant detail. But, a good LP is a being, it's not a product. It has a life-force, a personality, and a history, just like you and me. It can be your friend. Try explaining that to a weasel.

As I learned when I hit 30 +, and realized I was penniless, and almost unable to get my music released, music had become an industrial art and it was the people who excelled at the industry who got to make the art. I had to sell most of my future rights to keep making records to keep going. And now, thanks to digital advances, we have a very large industry, which is laughably maybe almost entirely pirate so nobody can collect shit. Well, it was to be expected. Everybody made a lot of money reselling all of recorded musical history in CD form back in the 90s, but now the cat is out of the bag and the new electronic devices which estrange people from their morals also make it easier to steal music than to pay for it. So there's gonna be a correction.

When I started The Stooges we were organized as a group of Utopian communists. All the money was held communally and we lived together while we shared the pursuit of a radical ideal. We shared all song writing, publishing and royalty credits equally – didn’t matter who wrote it - because we'd seen it on the back of a Doors album and thought it was cool, at least I did. Yeah. I thought songwriting was about the glory, I didn't know you'd get paid for it. We practiced a total immersion to try to forge a new approach which would be something of our own. Something of lasting value. Something that was going to be revealed and created and was not yet known.

We are now in the age of the schemer and the plan is always big, big, big, but it's the nature of the technology created in the service of the various schemes that the pond, while wide, is very shallow. Nobody cares about anything too deeply expect money. Running out of it, getting it. I never sincerely wanted to be rich. There is a, in the US, we have this guy “Do you sincerely wanna be rich? You can do it!” I didn’t sincerely want to be rich. I never sincerely felt like making anyone else that way. That made me a kind of a wild card in the 60's and 70's. I got into the game because it felt good to play and it felt like being free. I'm still hearing today about how my early works with The Stooges were flops. But they're still in print and they sell 45 years later, they sell. Okay, it took 20 or 25 years for the first royalties to roll in. So sue me.

Some of us who couldn't get anywhere for years kept beating our heads against the same wall to no avail. No one did that better than my friends The Ramones. They kept putting out album after album, frustrated that they weren't getting the hit. They even tried Phil Spector and his handgun. After the first couple of records, which made a big impact, they couldn't sustain the quality, but I noticed that every album had at least one great song and I thought, wow if these guys would just stop and give it a rest, society would for sure catch up to them. And that's what's happening now, but they're not around to enjoy it. I used to run into Johnny at a little rehearsal joint in New York and he'd be in a big room all alone with a Marshall stack just going "dum, dum, dum, dum, dum" all my himself. I asked him why and he said if he didn't practice doing that exactly the way he did it live he'd lose it. He was devoted and obsessive, so were Joey and Deedee. I like that. Johnny asked me one day - Iggy don't you hate Offspring and the way they're so popular with that crap they play. That should be us, they stole it from us. I told him look, some guys are born and raised to be the captain of the football team and some guys are just gonna be James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause and that's the way it is. Not everybody is meant to be big. Not everybody big is any good.

I only ever wanted the money because it was symbolic of love and the best thing I ever did was to make a lifetime commitment to continue playing music no matter what, which is what I resolved to do at the age of 18. If who you are is who you are that is really hard to steal, and it can lead you in all sorts of useful directions when the road ahead of you is blocked and it will get blocked. Now I'm older and I need all the dough I can get. So I too am concerned about losing those lovely royalties, now that they've finally arrived, in the maze of the Internet. But I'm also diversifying my income, because a stream will dry up. I'm not here to complain about that, I'm here to survive it.

When I was starting out as a full time musician I was walking down the street one bright afternoon in the seedier part of my Midwestern college town. I passed a dive bar and from it emerged a portly balding pallid middle aged musician in a white tux with a drink in one hand and a guitar in the other. He was blinking in the daylight. I had a strong intuition that this was a fate to be avoided. He seemed cut off from society and resigned to an oblivious obscurity. A bar fly. An accessory to booze. So how do you engage society as an artist and get them to pay you? Well, that's a matter of art. And endurance.

To start with, I cannot stress enough the importance of study. I was lucky to work in a discount record store in Ann Arbor Michigan as a stock boy where I was exposed to a little bit of every form of music imaginable on record at the time. I listened to it all whether I liked it or not. Be curious. And I played in my high school orchestra and I learned the joy of the warm organic instruments working together in the service of a classical piece. That sticks with you forever. If anyone out there can get a chance to put an instrument and some knowledge in some kids hand, you've done a great, great thing.

Comparative information is a key to freedom. I found other people who were smarter than me. To teach me. My first pro band was a blues band called The Prime Movers and the leader Michael Erlewine was a very bright hippy beatnik with a beautifully organized record collection in library form of The Blues. I'd never really heard the Blues. That part of our American heritage was kept off the major media. It was system up, people down. No Big Bill Broonzy on BBC for us. Boy I wish! No money in it. But everything I learned from Michael's beautiful library became the building blocks for anything good I've done since. Guys like this are priceless. If you find one, follow him, or her. Get the knowledge.

Once in secondary school in the 60's some class clowns dressed up the tallest guy in school in a trench coat, shades and a fedora and rushed him in to a school dance with great hubbub proclaiming "Del Shannon is here, Del Shannon is here." And until they got to the stage we all believed them, because nobody knew what Del Shannon looked like. He was just a voice on some great records. He had no social ID. By the early 60's that had really changed with the invasion of The Beatles and The Stones. This time TV was added to the mix and print media too. So you knew who they were, or so you thought anyway. I'm mentioning this because the best way to survive the death or change of an industry is to transcend its form. You're better off with an identity of your own or maybe a few of them. Something special.

It is my own personal view having lived through it that in America The Beatles replaced our assassinated president Kennedy, who represented our hopes for a certain kind of society. Didn’t get there. And The Stones replaced our assassinated folk music which our own leaders suppressed for cultural, racial, and financial reasons. It wasn't okay with everybody to be Kennedy or Muddy Waters, but those messages could be accepted if they came through white entertainers from the parent culture. That's why they’re still around.

Years later I had the impression that Apple, the corporation, had successfully co-opted the good feelings that the average American felt about the culture of the Beatles, by kind of stealing the name of their company so I bought a little stock. Good move. 1992. Woo! But look, everybody is subject to the rip off and has to change affiliations from time to time. Even Superman and Barbie were German before America tempted them to come over. Tough luck, Nietzche.

So who owns what anyway. Or as Bob Dylan said "The relationships of ownership." That’s gates of Eden. Nobody knows for long, especially these days. Apparently when BBC radio was founded, the record companies in England wouldn't allow the BBC to play their master recordings because they thought no one would buy them for their personal use if they could hear them free on the radio. So they were really confused about what they had. They didn’t get it. And how people feel about music. ‘Cause it’s a feel thing, and it resists logic. It’s not binary code. Later when CD's came in, the retail merchants in American all panicked because they were just too damn tiny and they thought that Americans want something that looks big, like a vinyl record. Well they had a point but their solution was a kind of Frankenstein called "The Long Box." It didn't fool anybody because half of it was empty. It had a little CD in the bottom. You’d open it up and it was empty. Now we have people in the Sahara using GPS to bury huge wads of Euros under sand dunes for safe keeping. But GPS was created for military spying from the high ground, not radical banking so any sophisticated system, along with the bounty it brings, is subject to primitive hijacking.

I wanna talk about a type of entrepreneur who functions as a kind of popular music patron of the arts. It’s good to know a patron. I call him El Padron because his relationship to the artist is essentially feudal, though benign. He or she (La Padrona) if you will, is someone, usually the product of successful, enlightened parents, who owns a record company, but has had benefit of a very good education, and can see a bigger picture than a petty business person. If they like an artists’ style and it suits them, they'll support you even if you’re not a big money spinner. I can tell you, some of these powerful guys get so bored that if you are fun in the office, you’ll go places. Their ancestors, the old time record crooks just made it their business to make great, great records, but also to rip off the artist 100%, copyright, publishing, royalty splits, agency fees, you name it. If anyone complained the line was "Pay you? We worship you!" God bless Bo Diddley.

By the time I came along, there was a new brand of Padron. People like this are still around and some can help you. One was named Jack Holzman. Jack had a beautiful label called Elektra Records, they put out Judy Collins, Tim Buckley, the Doors and Love. He'd started working in his family record store, like Brian Epstein. He dressed mod and he treated us very gently. He was a civilized man. He obviously loved the arts, but what he really wanted to do was build his business - and he did. He had his own concerns, and style, and you had to serve them, and of course when he sold out, as all indies do, you were stranded culturally in the hands of a cold clumsy conglomerate. But he put us in the right studios with the right producers and he tried to get us seen in the right venues and it really helped. This is a good example of the industry.

Another good guy I met is Sir Richard Branson. I ended up serving my full term at Virgin Records having been removed from every other label. And he created a superior culture there. People were happier and nicer than the weasels at some other places. The first time he tried to sign me it didn't work out, because I had my sights set on A&M, a company I thought would help make me respectable. After all they had Sting! Richard was secretly starting his own company at the time in the US and he phoned me in my tiny flat with no furniture. He said he'd give me a longer term deal with more dough than the other guys and he was very, very polite and soft spoken. But I had just smoked a joint that day and I couldn't make a decision. So I went with the other guys who soon got sick of me. Virgin picked me up again later on the rebound. And on the cheap. Damn. My own fault.

Another kind of indie legend who is slightly more contemporary is Long Gone John of the label Sympathy for the Record Industry. Good name. John is famous with some artists for his disinterest in paying royalties. He has a very interesting music themed folk art collection – its visible online - which includes my leather jacket. I wish he'd give it back. There are lots of indie people with a gift for organization who just kind of collect freaks and throw them up at the wall to see who sticks. You gotta watch 'em.

When you go a step down creatively from the Padrons who are actually entrepreneurs you get to the executives. You don't wanna know these guys. They usually came over from legal or accounting. They have protégés usually called A&R men to do their dirty work. You can become a favorite with them if your fame or image might reflect limelight on their career. They tend to have no personalities to speak of, which is their strength. Strangely they're never really thinking about the good of their parent company as much as old number one. Avoid them. If you’re an artist, they’ll make you sick or suicidal. The only good thing the conglomerate can do for you – and they’ve done it recently for me - is make you really, really ubiquitous. They do that well. But, when the company is your banker, then you are basically gonna be the Beverly Hill Billies. So it's best not to take their money. Especially when you’re young. These are very tough people, and they can hurt you.

So who are the good guys?! They asked me when they read this thing at BBC 6 Music. Well there are lots of them. If fact, today there are more than ever and they are just about all indies, but first I want to mention Peter Gabriel and WOMAD for everything they've done for what seems like forever to help the greatest musicians in the world, the so called world musicians to gain a foothold and make a living in the modern screwed up cash and carry world. Traditional music was never a for profit enterprise, all the best forms were developed as a kind of you’re job in the community. It was pretty good, it was “Yeah, I’m a musician, I’m gonna skip like doing the dishes or taking the trash out.” It's not surprising that all the greatest singers and players come from parts of the world where everybody is broke and the old ways are getting paved over. So it's crucial for everyone that these treasures not be lost. There are other people of means and intelligence who help others in this way like Philip Glass through Tibet House, David Burn with Luaka Bop, Damon Albarn through Honest John Records. Shout out to Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Almost all the best music is coming out on indies today like XL Matador, Burger, Anti, Epitaph, Mute, Rough Trade, 4 A D, Sub Pop, etc. etc.

But now YouTube is trying to put the squeeze on these people because it's just easier for a power nerd to negotiate with a couple big labels who own the kind of music that people listen to when they're really not that into music, which of course is most people. So they've got the numbers. But the indies kind of have the guns. I've noticed that indies are showing strength at some of the established streaming services like Spotify and Rhapsody – people are choosing that music. And it's also great that some people are starting their own outlets, like Pledge Music, Band Camp or Drip. As the commercial trade swings more into general show biz the indies will be the only place to go for new talent, outside the Mickey Mouse Club, so I think they were right to band together and sign the Fair Digital Deals Declaration.

There are just so many ways to screw an artist that it's unbelievable. In the old vinyl days they would deduct 10% "breakage fees" for records supposedly broken in shipping, whether that happened or not, and now they have unattributed digital revenue, whatever the **** that means. It means money for some guy’s triple bypass. I actually think that what Thom Yorke has done with Bit Torrent is very good. I was gonna say here: “Sure the guy is a pirate at Bit Torrent” but I was warned legally, so I’ll say: “Sure the guy a Bit Torrent is a pirate’s friend” But all pirates want to go legit, just like I wanted to be respectable. It’s normal. After a while people feel like you’re a crook, it’s too hard to do business. So it’s good in this case that Thom Yorke is encouraging a positive change. The music is good. It’s being offered at a low price direct to people who care.

I want to try to define what I am talking about when I say free. For me in the arts or in the media, there are two kinds of free. One kind of free is when the process is something that people just feel for you. You feel a sense of possibility. You feel a lack of constraint. This leads to powerful, energetic, sometimes kind of loony situations.

Vice Media is an interesting case of this because they started as a free handout, using public funds, and they had open, free-wheeling minds. Originally a free handout was called Voice and these kids were like “Just get rid of the old! I don’t wanna be Vice, yeah!” Okay. By taking an immersive approach with no particular preconceptions to their reporting, they've become a huge success, also through corporate advertising, at attracting big, big money investment hundreds of millions of dollars now pumped into Fox Media and a couple of others bigger than that in the US. And they get it because they attract lots of little boy eyeballs. So they brought us Dennis Rodman in North Korea. And it’s kind of a travesty, but it’s kind of spunky. It's interesting that capital investment, for all its posturing, never really leads, it always follows. They follow the action. So if it's money you're after, be the yourself in a consistent way and you might get it. You’ll at least end up getting what you are worth and feel better. Just follow your nose.

The second kind of freedom to me that is important in the media is the idea of giving freely. When you feel or sense that someone that someone is giving you something not out of profit, but out of self-respect, Christian charity, whatever it is. That has a very powerful energy. The Guardian, in my understanding, was founded by an endowment by a successful man with a social conscience who wanted to help create a voice for what I would call the little guy. So they have a kind of moral mission or imperative. This has given them the latitude to try to be interesting, thoughtful, helpful. And they bring Edward Snowden to the world stage. Something that is not pleasant for a lot of people to hear about, but we need to know.

These two approaches couldn't be more different. To justify their new mega bucks Vice will have to expand and expand in capital terms. Presumably they'll have to titillate a dumb, but energetic audience. Of course all capitalist expansions are subject to the big bang – balloon, bust, poof, and you’re gone. As for the Guardian I would imagine that the task involves gaining the trust and support of a more discerning, less definable reader, without spending the principal. There is usually an antipathy between cultural poles, but these two actually have a lot in common in terms of the energy and nuisance to power that they are willing to generate. I wish red and blue could come together somehow.

Sometimes I'd rather read than listen to music. One of my favourite odd books is Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry by Clinton Heylin. I bought the book in the 90's because a couple of my bootlegs were mentioned. I loved my bootlegs. They did a lot for me. I never really thought about the dough much. I liked the titles, like Suck on This, Stow Away DOA or Metalic KO. The packaging was always way more creative and edgy than most of my official stuff. So I just liked being seen and heard, like anybody else. These bootleggers were creative. Here are two quotes from the dust jacket by veteran industry stalwarts on the subject of bootlegs in 1994.

"Bootleg is the thoroughly researched and highly entertaining tale of those colorful brigands, hapless amateurs, and true believers who have done wonders for my record collection. Rock and roll doesn't get more underground than this." – that was David Fricke, the music editor of Rolling Stone "I think that bootlegs keep the flame of the music alive by keeping it out of not only the industry's conception of the artist, but also the artist's conception of the artist." – that was Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith group, musician, critic and my friend.

Wow!! Sounds heroic and vital!

I wonder what these guys feel about all of this now, because things have changed, haven't they? We are now talking about Megaupload, Kim Dot Com, big money, political power, and varying definitions of theft that are legally way over my head. But I know a con man when I see one. I want to include a rant from an early bootlegger in this discussion because it's so passionate and I just think it's funny.

This is Lou Cohan "If anybody thinks that if I have purchased every single Rolling Stones album in existence, and I have bought all the Rolling Stones albums that have been released in England, France, Japan, Italy, and Brazil that if I have an extra $100 in my pocket instead of buying a Rolling Stones bootleg I am going to buy a John Denver album or a Sinead O'Conner album, they are retarded."

So the guy is trying to say don't try to force me. And don't steal my choice. And the people who don't want the free U2 download are trying to say, don't try to force me. And they've got a point. Part of the process when you buy something from an artist. It’s a kind of anointing, you are giving people love. It’s your choice to give or withhold. You are giving a lot of yourself, besides the money. But in this particular case, without the convention, maybe some people felt like they were robbed of that chance and they have a point. It’s not the only point. These are not bad guys. But now, everybody's a bootlegger, but not as cute, and there are people out there just stealing the stuff and saying don't try to force me to pay. And that act of thieving will become a habit and that’s bad for everything. So we are exchanging the corporate rip off for the public one. Aided by power nerds. Kind of computer Putins. They just wanna get rich and powerful. And now the biggest bands are charging insane ticket prices or giving away music before it can flop, in an effort to stay huge. And there's something in this huge thing that kind of sucks.

Which brings us to Punk. The most punk thing I ever saw in my life was Malcolm McLaren's cardboard box full of dirty old winkle pinkers. It was the first thing I saw walking in the door of Let It Rock in 1972 which was his shop at Worlds End on the Kings Road. It was a huge ugly cardboard bin full of mismatched unpolished dried out winkle pickers without laces at some crazy price like maybe five pounds each. Another 200 yards up the street was Granny Takes a Trip, where they sold proper Rockstar clothes like scarves, velvet jackets, and snake skin platform boy boots. Malcolm's obviously worthless box of shit was like a fire bomb against the status quo because it was saying that these violent shoes have the right idea and they are worth more than your fashion, which serves a false value. This is right out of the French enlightenment.

So is the thieving that big a deal? Ethically, yes, and it destroys people because it's a bad road you take. But I don't think that's the biggest problem for the music biz. I think people are just a little bit bored, and more than a little bit broke. No money. Especially simple working people who have been totally left out, screwed and abandoned. If I had to depend on what I actually get from sales I’d be tending bars between sets. I mean honestly it’s become a patronage system. There’s a lot of corps involved and I don’t fault any of them but it’s not as much fun as playing at the Music Machine in Camden Town in 1977. There is a general atmosphere of resentment, pressure, kind of strange perpetual war, dripping on all the time. And I think that prosecuting some college kid because she shared a file is a lot like sending somebody to Australia 200 years ago for poaching his lordship's rabbit. That's how it must seem to poor people who just want to watch a crappy movie for free after they’ve been working themselves to death all day at Tesco or whatever, you know.

If I wanna make music, at this point in my life I'd rather do what I want, and do it for free, which I do, or cheap, if I can afford to. I can. And fund through alternative means, like a film budget, or a fashion website, both of which I've done. Those seem to be turning out better for me than the official rock n roll company albums I struggle through. Sorry. If I wanna make money, well how about selling car insurance? At least I'm honest. It's an ad and that's all it is. Every free media platform I've ever known has been a front for advertising or propaganda or both. And it always colors the content. In other words, you hear crap on the commercial radio. The licensing of music by films, corps, and TV has become a flood, because these people know they're not a hell of a lot of fun so they throw in some music that is. I'm all for that, because that's the way the door opened for me. I got heard on tv before radio would take a chance. But then I was ok. Good. And others too. I notice there are a lot of people, younger and younger, getting their exposure that way. But it's a personal choice. I think it’s an aesthetic one, not an ethical one.

Now with the Internet people can choose to hear stuff and investigate it in their own way. If they want to see me jump around the Manchester Apollo with a horse tail instead of trying to be a proper Rockstar, they can look. Good. Personally I don't worry too much about how much I get paid for any given thing, because I never expected much in the first place and the whole industry has become bloated in its expectations. Look, Howling Wolf would work for a sandwich. This whole thing started in Honky Tonk bars. It's more important to do something important or just make people feel something and then just trust in God. If you're an entertainer your God is the public. They'll take care of you somehow. I want them to hear my music any old which way. Period. There is an unseen hand that turns the pages of existence in ways no one can predict. But while you’re waiting for God to show up and try to find a good entertainment lawyer.

It's good to remember that this is a dream job, whether you're performing or working in broadcasting, or writing or the biz. So dream. Dream. Be generous, don’t be stingy. Please. I can't help but note that it always seems to be the pursuit of the money that coincides with the great art, but not its arrival. It's just kind of a death agent. It kills everything that fails to reflect its own image, so your home turns into money, your friends turn into money, and your music turns into money. No fun, binary code – zero one, zero one - no risk, no nothing. What you gotta do you gotta do, life's a hurly-burly, so I would say try hard to diversify your skills and interests. Stay away from drugs and talent judges. Get organized. Big or little, that helps a lot.

I'd like you to do better than I did. Keep your dreams out of the stinky business, or you'll go crazy, and the money won't help you. Be careful to maintain a spiritual EXIT. Don't live by this game because it's not worth dying for. Hang onto your hopes. You know what they are. They’re private. Because that's who you really are and if you can hang around long enough you should get paid. I hope it makes you happy. It's the ending that counts, and the best things in life really are free.

#iggy pop #idk if anyone posted it here already #I'm just too lazy to look up so #here it is!

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warsofasoiaf · 5 years ago

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Communist anon here - Yes to all of them?

@eyeofnewtblog said: I personally would be very interested in hearing an educated opinion on theories and practice

This is going to be a long answer so under a cut it goes. The short answer is no, I do not like either Marxism or communism, to the point where I consider myself anti-communist. The long answer goes under the cut.

First, it’s important to remember where I am coming from, what I am, and what I am not. I’m neither educated in philosophy nor history. I study both, and I have had classes in both, but that doesn’t mean that I’m an expert in either, and my experiences with Marxism have largely been academic, instructors attempting to tell me what Marxism is (fun fact: I once made a lot of these theoretical arguments to a Marxist professor on an exam - I was given an F). So if you’re looking for an educated opinion, depending on what that means, I don’t have one, after all, I got an F on it. Similarly, while I do study some philosophy, it is by no means something I’ve been trained it or seriously articulated; my observations primarily come from observing human nature and studying history and political movements. In that sense, I’m far closer to Eric Hoffer than I am to Hannah Arendt (though both as philosophical scholars far exceed me in every sense that to be compared to them would not be an honor to me but an insult to them). I’m a believer in liberalism and democracy, and a radical individualist, which to me means that people have an inherent dignity, and should be free to determine who they are, what they want to do, and what they value. It’s not a fully-fleshed out philosophy with rules, I’ve already said I’m no philosopher. I just do the best I can and handle situations as they come up.

Those values put me at odds with Marxism from the get-go. Marxism articulates the necessity of a dictatorship, the “dictatorship of the proletariat,” where the government following the revolution seizes the means of production, nationalizing all industries and property, and transition to a communist society, preserving the power of the state to suppress any reactionary or counter-revolutionary activity. I’ve heard this line before; this sounds remarkably similar to authoritarian measures enacted in tinpot dictatorial states meant to preserve order and enforce the power of the government to suppress dissent. The “transitional state” sounds a lot like perpetual “state of emergency” laws enacted to keep the populations in line, a theoretical end-state where such measures are no longer necessary is always on the horizon, but just like the horizon, is never reachable. Call me crazy, but I don’t see how putting people under control of a dictatorship with such unlimited powers is liberating them, save in a metaphorical, dogmatic sense that rationalizes their subjugation as necessary. There’s a broad appeal there, violent mass movements definitely find a lot of support from individuals who see it as a means to finally lord power over those they hate; individuals who want those they despise cowering before them, begging them not to bring the axe down. Such motivations have been an incentive for aspiring foot soldiers to put on their jackboots, so that they eagerly stomp the faces in of the people they despise, and to rationalize it away.

Marxism depends on a lot of things that are untrue, like his assertion that the rate of profit tending to fall, or the labor theory of value which has few serious practitioners and has been widely debunked to the point where Shimshon Bichler was able to criticize the lack of statistical correlation and the degree by which abstract labor must be assumed to see the labor theory of value as purely circular reasoning, hardly compelling for a central tenet of the philosophy to depend on a set of assumptions that rely on others being produced. While I’m no philosopher and reality is impossible to condense into any one singular lens, the degree by which Marxism is riddled with intellectual and logical inconsistencies make it difficult for me as a thinker to take it as seriously as others do. Other matters, while not necessarily untrue, become difficult to function when brought from theory to reality. Take the standard line: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” How are ability and need for each person assessed? What happens if someone is incapable of producing something to the level of ability that is assessed? What happens if someone needs more than is assessed? What happens if need outpaces supply? What happens if ability cannot meet need? What happens if there’s a disaster and there is a temporary shortage? These extend outwards to questions of land use, industrial capacity, training, etc., these centralized economically planned models failed in the 20th century, and again, this turns me off to the model. This is not simply a matter of corrupt Communist Party officials degrading the functioning of the government for personal enrichment, this is a serious information problem that even the most powerful computers of today cannot model and manage, and the idea of a communist state becomes much diminished in appeal to me.

Other stuff in Marxism goes further into what I consider downright repugnant. The idea of “false consciousness” is particularly disgusting to me, where if someone is not motivated by that which the Marxist believes that they should be motivated, these conceptions are deluded and must be corrected. That is such a statement of such monumental arrogance I’m surprised it doesn’t have its own gravity well. It is to say to one person that whatever meaning they have discovered through their own experiences is less valid; it is to say that the Marxist may state that whatever said person values is not in their own benefit. The logical conclusion from this is that non-Marxists cannot be allowed their own judgment, that they must be shaped until they embody the Marxist conception of reality and only then are they truly full people, capable of making judgments of this fashion and assessing what is to their benefit and what is not. For a movement that espouses equality and liberation, sure as hell doesn’t seem very equal to me; only our practitioners are capable, rational beings? No.

Now, most Marxists I know don’t really believe this, but I think this is more of their own conception. Like most practitioners of religions or other philosophies, they pick and choose what tenets to follow.

Communism is practice has been a disaster. Lenin really ran with the idea of the dictatorship of the proletariat with his vanguard model, making the centralizing dictatorship a core part of his leadership and in charge of everything, to the point where failure to provide the dictatorship with what they demanded was considered treason and grounds for termination, and later communist regimes really ran with this idea, as I’ve mentioned before, Marxism appeals to revolutionary dictatorships because it justifies the dictatorship beyond a naked power grab to better secure it. Similarly, Lenin rationalized ignoring his citizens by simply ignoring elections when he lost; the Leninist model was openly a sham democracy. In the Soviet Union, even Khrushchev, who gave the Secret Speech denouncing Stalin, still sent the tanks into Hungary and forcibly medicated any who disagreed with the principles of communism as mentally ill (my previous paragraph is not jumping to conclusions, this was a documented fact). Mao created the “mass line,” a means to consult the population while mandating interpreting their wishes through the ideology, thus dismissing anything that the dictator doesn’t want, a clever fig leaf. Of course, Mao’s already deeply unworthy with its massive loss of life - the Great Chinese Famine was the largest famine in history and enacted by the ideological dogmas of the Great Leap Forward and Mao’s Cultural Revolution was doubling down on his mistakes, murdering those who opposed him. The brutality though, has been the biggest failure; there’s a reason the European left jumped to the social democrat model with the rise of Keynesian economics in the aftermath of World War II, they felt it was a way to achieve their objectives without the brutality of the Soviet model. The totalitarian conception of power and identity left its mark on the movement, but I don’t see them as inventions by power-mad dictators, they were extensions of the philosophy that saw only its practitioners as fully human.

Even discounting the brutality, the standard of living and industrial capacity of communist countries has been low comparatively. In 1927, the Soviet Union produced a scant 3 million tons of steel despite massive advantages in natural resources and manpower, compared to Germany’s 16 million tons, Britain’s 9 million, and France’s 8 million. Relatively speaking, more resources were wasted in steel production in the USSR, and this was similar across the board in communist countries. Communism lambasted capitalism for its wastefulness, but the numbers show that communism was the far more wasteful, inefficient method of economic organization. Some defenders of the Soviet Union point to the growth under leaders like Khrushchev, but I counter that the exceptional rate of growth was both temporary and comparatively small compared to non-communist states. Francis Spufford may have tried to sell it with the idea of Red Plenty as a fusion of history and fiction, but history has borne out that it was entirely fiction.

The more anarchist sects of the movement, the ones who reject the transitional state, similarly were failures in practice. In Spain, those who did not wish to join were often brutalized, which seems to me to be violating the principal of anarchism in that forced compliance in an anarchist society is an extension and use of state power. This is relatively common throughout history though, particularly when it comes to ideology. The Soviet Union decried “imperialism” but was incredibly imperialist, just as the United States decried the security state apparatus of the Soviet Union as violating the rights of their own citizens while pursuing COINTELPRO when it came to folks like Fred Hampton. In a more practical sense, the anarchists poor training and suboptimal deployment were unable to stop Franco despite having plenty of clear advantages in the Spanish Civil War. While they are by no means the only reason for the Republican failure, the inability for the anarchist faction to defend their people is a failure of their system of government. A lot of anarchist models run into this problem, it should not be thought of as a failure reserved solely for the anarcho-communist model, and anyone who says it doesn’t is ignoring history.

So to sum up, I consider Marxism to be a philosophy which espouses tenets that I find disgusting, and it’s articulation of government to be illiberal, anti-democratic, and founded on the violation of human rights and dignity.

Thanks for the question, Anons who were waiting.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#communism

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uk-news-talking-politics · 5 years ago

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Forget about masks: the real covid culture war has only just begun

By Jonathan Lis The box-office coronavirus culture war already seems to have faltered. People still grumble about their masks but they mostly wear them, both because they have to and because they want to stop the virus. The US-style backlash and protests just haven't caught on as widely or fervently as their proponents hoped. The problem is that this isn't the real gulf at all. The row over face coverings has in fact masked a much larger and more serious split, one which could impact Britain's society, culture and economy for years to come. It is the division between those who intend to live their lives as normal and those who cannot. The seeds of this divide were planted at the beginning of lockdown. As early as the start of April, officials were touting the idea of 'immunity passports', where those found to have covid antibodies could use some kind of certification to re-enter society, while those without them would stay locked down. That played into the herd immunity strategy, as it would in effect incentivise people to get sick. There was a vague dystopian notion that your social and economic value would hinge on whether you had had the virus or were waiting to get it. In the end, that idea never transpired. But it was replaced by something else: a division regulated not by certificates but by individual will, and fear. The first thing to note about this new culture war is that neither side is an enemy, or in the wrong. Both new groups have valid reasons to behave as they do. The life-as-normals are desperate to resume the habits and activities which defined their identities and made life happy and meaningful. Most want to do so safely. Meanwhile, the self-restricting may have health conditions or anxieties, or simply observe the widespread breakdown in social distancing in public and private spaces and consider it not worth the risk. The virus has amply demonstrated its lethality. It is reasonable to fear it. The second thing to note is that the government is to blame. Under the meaningless banner of 'common sense', ministers urge us to 'eat out to help out' and return to offices, even as they lock down parts of the country and remind us that infection rates are rising. In the usual win-win game of abrogating all political responsibility, they will condemn those who re-enter society for spreading the virus and those who don't for crashing the economy. Whatever happens, we must never blame the government for issuing guidance, just the public for following it. And yet just because this divide has been stoked by the government, it still exists, and leaves us all with individual choices to make. There is no neutrality here: we judge that it is safe to go out, or we judge that it isn't. We choose to see our friends in the busy café, or we choose not to. That choice matters. It's currently unclear how many people are declining to go back to normal. Over 2 million people have been shielding. The streets in London can still feel eerily quiet even at rush hour. Anecdotally, most of us know people who are determined to live their pre-virus lives and others who are more or less continuing lockdown unchanged. If the government wants us back to normal, it should be worried. According to a recent YouGov poll, 49% were uncomfortable returning to pubs, with just 28% comfortable doing so. A further poll last week revealed that 53% probably or definitely wouldn't take advantage of the restaurant discount scheme. This corresponds with a general sense of unease: YouGov found that 74% feared a second wave of the virus and only 21% did not. This kind of voluntary segregation could bring significant consequences on a social and personal level. A fear of missing out could encourage some people to put themselves at risk, while others who stay home could find themselves cut out of friendship and support networks. The splitting of such groups could foster deep resentments. Mental health problems may emerge in people who felt isolated in the lockdown and re-isolated in its ending. The most visible problem, of course, will be economic. Returning to normality doesn't simply mean going back to pubs and restaurants, but also workplaces. Significantly, nobody is being forced to go to the pub, but some employees are being forced back to their jobs – even if they consider them unsafe. Hundreds of thousands of people with health risks or anxiety are now facing two unenviable outcomes: a situation where they cannot return to economic activity while their colleagues are, or where they are in fact dismissed from work altogether.

The former will breed a two-tier society where people are, through no fault of their own, trapped in a form of work paralysis, denied the pleasures and rewards of their jobs, and prevented from progressing with their careers. The latter will be a form of outright – yet lawful – discrimination, and could bring rapid poverty. Both will create not only a social stratification but also a monetary one, where those with fewer health problems or anxieties also end up richer and with better careers. Economists have talked of a K-shaped recovery, where some groups quickly rebound while others move in the opposite direction. The deepest sting is that this new division feeds into wider disadvantages that don't depend on personal choice. Already we can see a geographic disparity, with Leicester and parts of northern England facing restrictions that other places do not. Given that poorer people have been more exposed to the virus from the start, we could find that it is the less well-off parts of the country that frequently return to lockdown, while richer areas keep their businesses and leisure activities open. That will further exacerbate the economic and health inequalities, and gap in quality of life, which already existed. It is also not just about geography or income. The aftermath of the virus will increase the gaps between able-bodied and disabled people and deepen the divisions across age groups. Far from a society coming together after the torment of the Brexit years, we could be about to re-solidify divisions on some of the old lines and separate further along new ones. Perhaps the most poignant element of all this is that there did seem to be a national coming together in the lockdown months. Certainly, much of that was superficial or, by its very nature, temporary, but events such as the clapping for carers appeared to engender a broad solidarity.

As the recent report from the Together campaign suggested, people no longer feel that shared purpose. Covid had a harder impact on those who could not work from home, but it restricted everyone's social and family lives in the same way, regardless of class or wealth. People accepted that, because we had the single task of curbing the death toll and saving the NHS. Now, those restrictions no longer apply, and we do not necessarily understand what we're meant to be doing or where the government is taking us. Individually and in groups, we are diverging far and fast. Now is the time to get to grips with this problem. As we face the trauma and anxiety of a potential second wave, and months or years of localised restrictions, we risk breaking into two solid and distinct categories which will define and divide us. If the government refuses to unify us, we must do it for ourselves. So forget about the culture war on masks. The most difficult and damaging problem has only just begun.

#coronavirus

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margaretrodriguez-blog · 4 years ago

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ratnadeepsupermarket · 4 years ago

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The guide to remember while you are standing in the que for groceries

From time-saving to cost-saving- a lot can happen when you decide to experiment a little with the grocery shopping. And thanks to the all-time rising ease and innovation that has brought us easy grocery shopping. Nowadays in every locality, there is a famous grocery shop where people can be seen shopping for their morning milk, and vegetables for dinner. A departmental store's culture within groceries is increasing and has given a lot of flexibility to consumers for shopping under one roof. So, generally, you will find that the best grocery store in Hyderabad is the one that not only provides the groceries but a valuable and worthy experience to its customers, with all the daily requirement goods.

When the month is approaching the end, and you have the stack of empty jars lying in the kitchen, its an alert to re-stock. But, you have to spare a few hours: as you may think.

People generally think that grocery shopping is a simple job: make a list, buy what you need, and then drive home. But in the real terms, it's much more complicated these days. Consumers have an overwhelming number of options more than ever: organic, local, generic, private label, the list goes on and on.

It can be challenging to say whether you're having the best prices and the freshest goods with so many options. Besides this, within each product line, there is a multitude of brands. Then the daunting task is to find the best. Every time a trial approach cannot be followed. Therefore, people opt to go for the best grocery store in Hyderabad where they can find the best goods. And perhaps, there might be no better option than this.

In the real sense, The best way to go for a perfect grocery shopping is to come prepared with a plan. There might be a list of changes at the last moment, but a plan will help you stay organized. Maybe you marked for tomato ketchup in the list, but a chilli variant would be tempting to you. Similarly, while making a list, you decided to go for a vanilla ice cream, but then chocolate cravings popped up. These are the small and general scenes that every individual goes by while going to shopping for groceries. There will be an array of options in the best grocery store in Hyderabad, so, naturally, you may dwindle between choices when you have so much in front of your eyes. The supermarket culture is increasingly growing, yet this is another reason shopping for grocery has been easy & complicated both at the same time.

Traditionally, it would take a long day to buy the groceries as you had to prepare the list, drive, and walk by the aisles carrying a heavy bag. But witnessing the todays trend, it can be concluded that it has become a lot more comfortable- owing to several factors.

First and foremost- now there are grocery shops in almost every locality, no matter the size. So, you can find the essential goods there. Secondly, with the advent of technology and increased value for customer experience, the retailers try to give maximum satisfaction to the consumers. For this reason, many owners of the best grocery store in Hyderabad have started providing facilities like free home delivery, online payments, etc. Additionally, they also offer the facility of online orders. Well, this is now an important characteristic that counts while counting the consumer experience value.

There is a lot of ease consumers can now have almost anything in the nearest grocery store. Last but not least- the supply chain management is growing intense each day. Therefore, it is ensured that the customers do not fall short for any of their products. A brand from the north is available across the length and breadth of the country. And this is made possible by the strong network of supply chain management and logistics. The best grocery store in Hyderabad also makes sure that their stock supply is smooth and apt.

The modern-day concept of grocery stores is not limited to the bare necessities only. Now people have moved far beyond than that. You will fond utilities, Tupperware, and even clothing and apparel in some of the supermarkets. This not only brings ease to the customers but also improves the brand image of the retail store. And in the long run, they become big brands. To the truth, we have live examples of many such stores. The mass marketing concept is being nicely followed here, and the good supermarkets follow a combined mix of multiple marketing strategies. It takes years for the best grocery store in Hyderabad to build its name and reputation. And it comes from the quality of materials they provide, plus the consumer experience they deliver. While making a brand, every factor has equal weightage, no matter how big or small.

Because every community has different assets and needs, it will be different for each organization to maintain a local grocery. They carefully analyze and prepare how to sustain or build their local grocery store. Similarly, each individual and each household will have different requirement for the grocery. They design it all based on their monthly requirements and needs. And sometimes people go shopping according to their budget.

So when we have a budget in the picture, here is a tip: you can look for the sales that are coming up. Sometimes it's a particular brand that offers you a discount or sometimes its the store owner offering some cut-off. It may be due to stockpiling or perhaps to get in more number of people. Whatever the case is- it's a win-win situation for the person buying the groceries. The best grocery store in Hyderabad would provide similar ease to its customers at times. But you will get this opportunity only if you are lucky enough. Therefore, it is essential to keep a regular check on the happenings of the groceries around you. They not only help you to stay updated with the new brands but can also save some pennies for you.

#supermarket #grocery #food #organicvegetables #organicfood #hyderabad #Ratnadeep #Ratnadeepsupermarket

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pilotbrazil9 · 4 years ago

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Top Ten Ways To Travel Cheaply And Stick Any Budget

Modern Europe has been transferred to encourage train holiday. With its myriad of relatively small countries and diverse cultures (even with the increasing homogenization of the European Union and the common currency, the Euro), hand calculators arrive in a really different place from a person started just a few hours past. So to summarize, offers the travel agent died? Well not now. The internet has certainly dealt them a monumental blow, but a blow that have been recovered from all the same. The travel industry has expanded, the internet has opened doors that none of folks have seen through right before. So as the market place has grown so too has the particular wanting any occasion. Although tend to be three classes of sleeper berths in this particular train, we are going to speak about first class in this particular blog post. Train travel from Stuttgart Central Station Hbf to Amsterdam Central station in Thailand is lower priced. Booking a private first class sleeper cabin from Hua Lamphong station to Surat Thani station, for two people, costs around 3,000 Baht, 90 dollars or 60 UK pounds. For this price you receive a private cabin, with two beds, a sink unit, and at all times room service, bringing food and drinks, including alcohol. Extremely first class bathroom facilities are far much better than second class, and possess a Western style toilet and even a shower. Train travel offers excellent value for money, and getting in advance, or choosing a weekly, monthly or annual railcard may make rail travel across Merseyside cheaper currently. The very first thing you do when you get your suit out among the bag is take it off the wire hanger you travel with (because wire is less clunky) and it on the hotel's hanger. Shake the suit out properly and hang it upward. After Train travel from Pisa Centrale to Riomaggiore shake the jacket out, hang it on the hook in the bathroom, plug your steamer in, and hold the steamer about 4 or 5 inches away around the fabric. Dust and grime really incredibly well! Now, if you think approach has become popular something recommended can't do for whatever reason, you can use the shower to steam your suit; just that you simply your pants and jacket are well away from the shower head and close the drape. You want to avoid seen being so nervous regarding your meeting you've got managed the seemingly impossible feat of sweating through a suit. The first thing I mentioned was basically why an individual getting this pet? Anyone have are getting this pooch purely for companionship you really really need to consideration the fundamentals of training. As a companion pet, your doggie need to have to the many basics commands of proper dog training like sit, stay, come, down and heel. As apposed to housebreaking which really is number one on exercising list and socialization a puppy does really not need nowadays training. Taking your doggie to an obedience class will definitely help with socialization and will also help an individual acquire the skills you need to implement course at real estate. LS: So how does one prevent why? I've seen you take the stage to deliver your keynote. Train travel from Bari Centrale to Giovinazzo look like your suit just came off the tailor's hook. How do you not look wrinkled and travel weary? Sign up for Email Travel Alerts: Online travel sites normally offer travel alerts for sudden discounted last minute travel supplies. If you apply for an alert, you train travel be immediately notified whenever a last minute travel deal becomes usable. The G scale train set normally comes in the box and handle to be fitted together once it is opened. Other pieces could be bought help make the set as specific niche market it. Given that the objective of travel usually have "the best time" I am always on the lookout for ideas of how to make the process of travel easier and more fulfilling so will be able to be fully focussed for a chilling out, living the dream, being adventurous, experiencing alternate lifestyles and customs, etc, etc aspects of my tour. Will the likes of Trip Advisor and Facebook replace travel professionals given that prices unearth a level that cannot sustain a professional business in tourism?

#travel

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lincoln-cannon · 5 years ago

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I’m a practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest Mormon denomination. I love and support the Church, its members, and its leaders. But that doesn’t mean that I always agree with all of them, all of the time. Nor, of course, does it mean that other members or leaders always agree with me.

A friend recently read some of my thoughts about a recent General Conference of the Church. He observed, rightly, that “unquestioning veneration of LDS leadership is something that is inconsistent with your personal philosophy.” And he asked me some questions about my relationship with the Church.

Why a Specific Church Matters

First, he wondered “how loyalty to the formal LDS church organization relates to your philosophy.”

As context for my answer to this question, I distinguish between a religion and a church. And, in particular, I distinguish between the Mormon religion and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Religions, such as Mormonism, are more broad and abstract. Churches, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are more narrow and concrete.

From a Platonic perspective, you might consider religion to be the form and church to be the instance. And, by extension, we would expect the form to admit of many possible instances. For example, the Dog form admits of both Lassie and Toto, among others. And the Mormon form admits of both The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ, among others.

Various religions attribute more or less significance to their churches (or whatever term they might use for the formal organizations related to them). Christianity and Buddhism serve as a relatively clear example. Christianity tends to emphasize its formal organizations more than Buddhism does. And this seems to reflect differences in their fundamental philosophies toward this world and embodiment.

Mormonism, more so than any other branch of Christianity that I’m familiar with, emphasizes the value of this world and embodiment. It’s this world that should become heaven. And it’s these bodies that should become immortal. Whether or not some individual Mormons happen to aspire to merely abstract heavens, our authoritative theological tradition clearly and consistently advocates concrete heavens.

Accordingly, in my estimation, Mormonism also has a strong requirement for concrete churches. While it may be enough for a Buddhist to claim the religious identity and practice meditation on her own. Something like that generally wouldn’t be enough for a Mormon – not even close to enough. Mormonism mandates embodied expression on all levels, and even anticipates an increasingly robust expression of that embodiment going into the future.

So, for me, it’s highly important not only that I identify as Mormon but also that I participate actively in a Mormon church. Otherwise, I don’t think I’d be practicing Mormonism as fully as I’m capable of practicing it. I recognize that other people, now and in the past, have or have had different limitations and challenges. So I don’t intend this as universally prescriptive.

But why, then, am I a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in particular? In part, that’s because I was raised by parents who are members of the Church. But, as I’ve written before, I also feel that this is still the place, for both emotional and rational reasons. Notably, I esteem the Church as the best available, albeit imperfect, embodiment of formal communal advocacy for theosis.

The Utility of Church Practices

Next, my friend asked, “Do you find utility in obedience, orthodoxy, tithing, garment wearing, rigorous sabbath observance, avoiding coffee, tea and wine, and other aspects of the faith that (arguably) don’t have obvious practical benefits?”

I find utility in obedience that is conforming to the image of Christ, as exemplified by Jesus. I don’t find utility in what many recognize as “obedience culture,” which too often manifests as lazy pandering to some excessively opinionated authority figure. The former is the transformative heart of the Gospel of Christ. The latter is what D&C 121 warns us against.

I find utility in qualified patience with thoughtful expressions of perceived orthodoxy. But that’s mostly because I want to be charitable. Dogma should be recognized as the antithesis of Mormonism, which celebrates the necessity of dynamic faith in perpetual revelation and eternal progression. As Joseph Smith put it, “the creeds set up stakes, and say hitherto shalt thou come, and no further, which I cannot subscribe to.”

Tithing is easy, for me, to associate with utility. No formal organization can operate without resources, which tithing provides in our case. And, although I recognize some people don’t like how many resources the Church has amassed, I actually like that it has amassed those resources. I hope that the Church, under the influence of its members and the direction of its leaders, will eventually use those resources to realize some possibilities associated with genealogy that it may be uniquely positioned to realize.

I wish the garment design and manufacturing process were better. Some will consider that vanity. That aside, there’s utility in constantly wearing symbols that remind me of the transformative process in which I wish to be constantly engaged. Church members receive the garment in the temple when we’re literally anointed – literally christened to join in the roles and titles of Christ.

Rigorous sabbath observances are different for different members of the Church. If a particular set of rules and behaviors works for someone (and doesn’t harm anyone else), I’m fine with that. And, by “works,” I mean that I hope it genuinely functions to achieve the purpose of the sabbath as expressed in scripture. Not entirely joking, I sometimes embellish my sense of that purpose by claiming that God is Buddhist on the Sabbath.

I think it’s wise to avoid drinking alcohol. The evidence for health benefits seems to be mostly attributable to the non-alcohol parts of the beverages, which can be consumed in other ways. And the evidence for the social and health detriments is strong – soberingly strong, and I should write more about that sometime.

In contrast, I think the evidence for overall health benefits from coffee and tea is strong. So I avoid them only for symbolic reasons, as an expression of solidarity with members of the Church. And I consume nootropic components of coffee and tea in supplement form on a daily basis.

There are many other aspects of Mormonism that are controversial. In my opinion, some of the controversies are worthy of attention. And others aren’t. I’ve previously written some of my thoughts on the most popular Mormon controversies.

How the Church Is True

Finally, my friend asks, “Do you believe the church’s claim to be the only true church?”

As context for my answer to this question, I’ll share some interpretive thoughts on what I (and probably most Mormons) consider to be the two most important passages of scripture about the “only” true church. The first is in the opening section of The Doctrine and Covenants. Here’s the verse that receives the most attention:

30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually –

When reading this verse out of context, a careful reader should ask several questions.

For example, what are “these commandments?” Verses 6 and 17 make clear that the commandments are, at least, the content of a particular book. That book is The Doctrine and Covenants (D&C), which has evolved and continues to evolve in different ways among different Mormon denominations. Joseph Smith either wrote or dictated most of the original content of the book.

Why do I say, “at least?” That’s because verse 18 expands “commandments” to include that which God gave “to others.” And it’s not clear whether we should understand that expansion to be part of “these commandments” when the phrase appears in later verses.

Likewise, what is “this church?” Presumably, it’s at least the church that Joseph Smith organized. But the only reference to “church” outside verse 30, in the entire text, is in the first sentence. And that reference is ambiguous, with God addressing “my church” while the eyes of God are “upon all men.”

The subsequent text makes the reference to “church” even more ambiguous. The second half of the first verse says that God is addressing “people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea.” The second verse says that God is addressing “all men,” echoing the first sentence. Are these additional audiences or additional ways of describing the “church” audience?

So there are at least two ways that someone could read verse 30. It could mean that God gave Joseph Smith the power to found The Church of Christ, which was the original name of the specific organization that evolved into multiple Mormon denominations. Or it could mean that God gave both Joseph and “others” the power to found a church that consists, or perhaps could or should consist, of “all men” – all humanity.

At first, people who’ve long read the text in the first way generally discount the strength of the second reading. But there are reasons to consider the second reading more robust. For sake of time, I’ll point out only one, which I consider the strongest.

The Book of Mormon existed before The Doctrine and Covenants. And the opening section of The Doctrine and Covenants even references The Book of Mormon in verse 29, the verse just before the one in question. So the content of The Book of Mormon is important for contextualizing the meaning of verse 30.

The Book of Mormon also contains the other most important passage of scripture about the “only” true church. That passage of scripture is in 1 Nephi 14:

10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.

According to this passage of scripture, there are only two churches. One is good. The other is evil. And there are no others.

In other words, if you’re not part of the good church then you’re part of the evil church. There are no exceptions. At least, that’s what the text seems to say. And the next verses elaborate.

11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.

So, although there are only two churches, those churches are both spread across the entire Earth. The evil church is among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. And so is the good church, even if in fewer numbers.

How does this relate to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Are we, as members of the Church, ready to esteem everyone in the Church as good and everyone outside the Church as evil? I’ve observed a few members of the Church who seem ready for that. But most of us, including most leaders, seem to have a different perspective.

Most members of the Church acknowledge that we see good people among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. And most also acknowledge that we see good people among all religions, even when we have disagreements with them. So we must either discard 1 Nephi 14, or understand the good “church” as something other than an exclusive reference to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in particular.

What is that non-exclusive something else? As 1 Nephi 14 describes it, it’s the “church of the Lamb of God.” I think D&C 1 describes the same thing as “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.” And I think Paul describes the same thing in the New Testament as “the Body of Christ.”

I also think John describes the same thing in the New Testament as “the only true God.” Yes. I’m saying that I think the scriptures are intentionally ambiguous between God, Christ, and the only true church. I think God, Christ, and the only true church are ultimately the same thing: a synthesis of sublime persons and places.

Returning to D&C 1, it says that “those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness.” I trust that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an important and unique role to play in bringing the only true church “out of obscurity and out of darkness.” I also trust that other people, including other religions, have different, important, and unique roles to play in that same work. This is an ecumenical approach to Mormonism, which perhaps apostle Orson Whitney described best:

God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of His great and marvelous work. The Latter-day Saints cannot do it all. It is too vast, too arduous for any one people.

Does this mean that I think all churches are equally good for everyone? No. I do think we’re each unique, so there’s not one right answer for everyone all the time. But I also think that differences have real practical consequences.

Accordingly, I encourage compassionate missionary work, both by my Church and by other Mormon denominations and by other religions. A Biblical proverb says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” I think we should all work to share our religions and other philosophies to the best of our abilities, with the aim of truly helping each other. I trust such work will tend to improve our understanding of life, our sense of purpose, and our practical ability to realize a better world.

Come to Church

In that ecumenical and missionary spirit, I invite you to come to church.

If you’re a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I encourage you to renew your engagement. If you’re disillusioned, talk about it with people you trust. If you’re happy, kindly share the reasons for your happiness with others while listening to them too. We still have so much work to do, so let’s not “sleep through the restoration,” as apostle Dieter Uchtdorf put it.

If you’re not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is an invitation to learn more. Don’t expect us to be perfect, because we aren’t. But we have a transformative message and practice that helps many people. Contact me about it, or I can connect you with the missionaries.

If you’re not interested in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, consider this an invitation to friendly competition. Come to church in your own way. And let’s see how our differing choices contribute to making the world a more compassionate, creative, and thriving place for everyone.

I trust that, ultimately, all of this brings the only true and living church out of obscurity and out of darkness.

Originally published at lincoln.metacannon.net on July 02, 2020.

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