First. None of us know what kind of a teacher she is; she may be awesome
with reaching out to her kids on their level as well as teaching them
what they need to know, or she may be freakin' terrible at the subject
matter, baked out of her gourd during class, and incapable of being
patient with her students. But we don't know. So let's try not to make
any speculative judgments beyond what we do know.
Second. What
we do know is still very limited. This article and the images within
give us only a small insight into this woman's personality, her
lifestyle, and her habits. More than that, this doesn't even seem to be a
full report and even has conflicting statements with what has actually
been said to occur. What I can discern from the limited information at
hand is she's a young, beautiful woman who isn't ashamed of her body,
(in fact she seems to quite enjoy
showing it off), and who partakes in smoking marijuana in her free time,
which, quite frankly, is a rather subjective pastime as far as I'm
concerned with regards to the ethical question of whether or not it's
"right" or "appropriate". If you exchanged the joint for a cigarette or
perhaps a beer, would your perception of this woman and her
responsibility towards being a role model change? I mean, cigarettes and
alcohol are both legal, and kids don't remain kids forever--eventually
they'll have access, and quite possibly partake in these "vices". Would
it be wrong, then, for her to post pictures of herself smoking or
drinking as she is won't to do in her own free time? And consider this:
should we hold this woman accountable for an ethical standard many of us
don't follow, (including, quite possibly, many of her student's
parents), merely because she is responsible for our children *some* of
the time? That doesn't exactly seem fair. And here's another thing to
consider: if she were a male teacher and posted half-naked photos, would
it still be as controversial? Hm? Or is it maybe because we've
objectified and sexualized female beauty more than male beauty that it's
"unacceptable" behavior? Quite frankly, the posting of nude pictures
online should not be grounds for job termination. Everyone has a body.
Everyone gets naked sometimes. Human anatomy is not something to be
ashamed nor afraid of.
Furthermore, am I the only one here made
uneasy by the fact that employers today seem to have so much leverage
with which to pass judgement on their employees due to the public nature
of the internet? Consider: if the internet is a public place, would it
not be unlike your employer seeing you at a professional football game
or a bar? If you're intoxicated in such places, though not necessarily
making a complete ass of yourself, but you are clearly intoxicated and
perhaps having trouble being coherent or being completely level--would
it be fair for your employer to put you on unpaid leave, suspend you, or
even fire you merely because you were intoxicated on your own time in
public? Does that seem right to you? I mean, we already have laws and
the police to govern our actions--do we *really* need our livelihood to
come under fire just because some people like to let off steam with a
bunch of other people outside their home with the use of "drugs" (in
this case, alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana)?
I will agree
that we live in a profoundly narcissistic age as well as a time in which
over-sharing is starting to become an issue in regards to
boundaries--but consider that this is in response to society's shift
from being a repressive, closed doors type of environment where no one
said what they actually meant, (and in fact if they did, they were
considered eccentric or shameful or just plain strange and "unseemly"),
to one where speaking one's mind and being open and honest with how one
feels is not only encouraged but cherished. Do we need more discretion
in our words and actions with regards to how we interact with one
another? It's debatable. You take the good with the bad and everyone
gets dirty sometimes when they don't want to, but that's life. It's a
growing process.
Do I think this woman deserves to be
suspended? No. Observed, maybe. Put on academic probation, perhaps. But
not suspended or fired or what have you. Do I think she is not a good
role model? No, because I don't know her well enough to make that
assessment. All I know is that she seems to be acting as almost any
other attractive 23 year-old female of this generation might as she
adheres to the modern morality of this day and age instead of some of
the more traditional values that some people still hold and that were
more commonplace in America in bygone days. Is she a bad person or a bad
teacher? Who can say except for the people she teaches. The rest of us
are merely bystanders with opinions, and who can say for sure which of
us are truly right? Not me. And probably not you, either.
Beyonce
I couldn't disagree more strongly. Putting
this no-talent fraud (who table-danced for Gaddhafi's sons in 2010 for a
million bucks) on stage at this event denied thousands of talented
vocalists a once-in-a-lifetime chance to display their talent to the
world for real, in real time. Beyonce makes millions pretending to sing
and you defend her fraudulent display worrying the poor diva might get
the sniffles if she actually tried to sing one song, the very thing she
is so generously compensated for. Anyone from the 99.9 percent of
professional vocalists who actually sing and get paid almost nothing
would have been a better choice. Let Beyonce go give Robert Mugabe a lap
dance and spare us her canned fakery.
Gun Control
How about he learns to control himself. Self center little punk...Mr. me me me...couldn't take a little argument about a stupid game. He would have used a knife in the kitchen if not the gun. Self absorbed adolescent punk. Maybe he should have learned at an earlier age sportsmanship, conflict resolution and self control. But no, this little snowflake was taught he is never wrong, he can do what he wants, there are no consequences to his actions...typical me me me culture. He should rot in hell where he belongs. It's not about guns is about lack of values, morals and respect for human life.
Smashing Pumpkins
The sound was really good last night, in the shiny new complex, with the exception of one of the
later Oceania songs in which William just banged on his mistuned tinny Strat
like a monkey and gave everyone a frontal headache. His drummer, who had kind of a timberlake
look, was positively shredding. The bass
and other guitar played well but like they were at the end of a long tour…let’s
get home and crawl under the sheets for a few weeks.
later Oceania songs in which William just banged on his mistuned tinny Strat
like a monkey and gave everyone a frontal headache. His drummer, who had kind of a timberlake
look, was positively shredding. The bass
and other guitar played well but like they were at the end of a long tour…let’s
get home and crawl under the sheets for a few weeks.
Both the big globe visual screen and light show were a total
bore. I read somewhere it was designed
by the Pink Floyd guy, who I’m sure wasn’t cheap…waste of money. I don’t think I looked at the video more than
once. Ooooh, archival footage of a
missile factory….think deep thoughts about the slightly tangential relationship
to the music…ooooh a big lonely tree and a starry night sky, how trippy…who
cares? Maybe it’s because William, with
his chubby belly hanging out of his too tight tshirt and dramatic rock poses,
is more interesting to check out. I love
how coming from the era he does that he clearly worships overproduced rock gods
like Floyd…at one point during a ballad he even did a pretty decent Waters
imitation croak. Awesome.
bore. I read somewhere it was designed
by the Pink Floyd guy, who I’m sure wasn’t cheap…waste of money. I don’t think I looked at the video more than
once. Ooooh, archival footage of a
missile factory….think deep thoughts about the slightly tangential relationship
to the music…ooooh a big lonely tree and a starry night sky, how trippy…who
cares? Maybe it’s because William, with
his chubby belly hanging out of his too tight tshirt and dramatic rock poses,
is more interesting to check out. I love
how coming from the era he does that he clearly worships overproduced rock gods
like Floyd…at one point during a ballad he even did a pretty decent Waters
imitation croak. Awesome.
It was hilariously disconnected how much he talked about
football. All of the fake artsy fartsies
were giving me the stink eye earlier for watching Monday night football during
the opening band, then it turns out William probably was, too. Go cry about it, gloom cookies…its America,
we love crippling violence.
football. All of the fake artsy fartsies
were giving me the stink eye earlier for watching Monday night football during
the opening band, then it turns out William probably was, too. Go cry about it, gloom cookies…its America,
we love crippling violence.
While we’re at it though, it was actually bizarre that the
torch bearer for twisted, obsessive romantic love responded to boos at his
mention of Tom Brady with “What’s wrong with it? Do well and marry a hot model.” Really, dipshit? That’s what it’s all about? Are we back at the point of admiring Aryan frat
boys who have been given every opportunity to succeed? Is whatever Brady is doing, “Doing well”? Funny I thought it was about creating beauty
through your art and finding lasting love and warmth and acceptance.
torch bearer for twisted, obsessive romantic love responded to boos at his
mention of Tom Brady with “What’s wrong with it? Do well and marry a hot model.” Really, dipshit? That’s what it’s all about? Are we back at the point of admiring Aryan frat
boys who have been given every opportunity to succeed? Is whatever Brady is doing, “Doing well”? Funny I thought it was about creating beauty
through your art and finding lasting love and warmth and acceptance.
Another point about the interlude commentary: the last time I saw this band was in some
small venue in San Francisco, and I’m pretty sure that like me, nobody cares or
remembers about New York’s acceptance of SP back in the day. You’re just playing yourself with the whole “doesn’t
it make more sense now?” thing. Expressions
like this don’t further your reputation as misunderstood, gifted crank, or ruin
your mystique… it’s just irritating arrogance.
At the end of the day you write good songs, have an interesting voice and
can really play your guitar…let’s leave it at that. If you actually want to get into it, SP probably
does make more sense now, but it doesn’t have anything to do with you. It’s because back in the day New York wasn’t just
a corporate run shadow of its former self that eats whatever gets stuffed down
its bloated throat, it actually had a music scene of its own that didn’t really
dig your grandiose arrangements. So how
does it feel that your way of doing the good old rock and roll goes hand in
hand with late stage corporate capitalism?
But don’t worry, William, you’re currently winning the battle of you vs.
Kurt. In 20 years nobody will really remember
Nirvana and you can still do a farewell tour.
small venue in San Francisco, and I’m pretty sure that like me, nobody cares or
remembers about New York’s acceptance of SP back in the day. You’re just playing yourself with the whole “doesn’t
it make more sense now?” thing. Expressions
like this don’t further your reputation as misunderstood, gifted crank, or ruin
your mystique… it’s just irritating arrogance.
At the end of the day you write good songs, have an interesting voice and
can really play your guitar…let’s leave it at that. If you actually want to get into it, SP probably
does make more sense now, but it doesn’t have anything to do with you. It’s because back in the day New York wasn’t just
a corporate run shadow of its former self that eats whatever gets stuffed down
its bloated throat, it actually had a music scene of its own that didn’t really
dig your grandiose arrangements. So how
does it feel that your way of doing the good old rock and roll goes hand in
hand with late stage corporate capitalism?
But don’t worry, William, you’re currently winning the battle of you vs.
Kurt. In 20 years nobody will really remember
Nirvana and you can still do a farewell tour.
Oceania is a very good album. I thought so as soon as it came out, and
still do. And getting to hear it whole
was awesome, even if the lemmings in the crowd didn’t know any better. Takes balls to play the whole thing front to
back (another Pink Floyd move, bravo).
Try that, Soundgarden. I also
think the newly remastered and expanded Mellon Collie sounds amazing, so
amazing that the band should release an acoustic version of it and tour small
venues to promote. Are you listening,
William?
still do. And getting to hear it whole
was awesome, even if the lemmings in the crowd didn’t know any better. Takes balls to play the whole thing front to
back (another Pink Floyd move, bravo).
Try that, Soundgarden. I also
think the newly remastered and expanded Mellon Collie sounds amazing, so
amazing that the band should release an acoustic version of it and tour small
venues to promote. Are you listening,
William?
All in all a good safe arena rock night was had by all. Starting the “dusty old classics” with XYU
was a heavy, much appreciated choice, and the Bowie cover was sweet as
well. The “new new” song (Dream Machine)
they debuted played well, but I would have liked to hear Porcelina and Mayonnaise
instead. Maybe next time. And the good tshirts were only $20….rock on.
was a heavy, much appreciated choice, and the Bowie cover was sweet as
well. The “new new” song (Dream Machine)
they debuted played well, but I would have liked to hear Porcelina and Mayonnaise
instead. Maybe next time. And the good tshirts were only $20….rock on.
SNL
The
consistent problem with SNL over the years has been the effort to turn
things into marketable licenses rather than simply a one-off funny skit.
Like, say, Debbie Downer -- hilarious the first time and
toenail-out-with-pliers excruciating with each successive attempt to
replicate that first time. Or Baby-Hands. Same thing. Would be a
classic moment in SNL history but undercut by attempts to replicate.
But nothing can match that first shocking moment of the baby hands.
It's lazy by-the-books comedy. In my opinion, Lorne Michaels is the one
who needs to be gone and then you might get something fresh with the
writing. In the 70s he was a renegade. By the 90s he was
establishment. Today, he is like your grandpa who should be retired but
won't.
Reactionaries
The
energies are different,,,when you are anti something negative you are
still giving consciousness and thought to that which you are trying to
eliminate, so you tend to expand it. However when you are PRO something
you want to create, you expand the energy
of creation, in this case PEACE is already here if we don't suppress
it. We are peaceful creatures if we don't suppress our innate natural
tendencies for whatever reason. So, to activate what we are, we must
continuously focus on it, think of it, talk about it, and live it within
ourselves first. Peaceful thoughts creates a peaceful human being. When
there is enough of us thinking, breathing, and promoting peace, we can
tilt and shift our united citizenship into PEACE and LIVE together as
one. FEAR is EGO base, so is WAR,,,,our chance for the next stage in
human evolution for a peaceful global society is LOVE and FAITH....
Gymnastics
Totally agree with oana, catalina those were your golds and it's a pity that a stupid tiebreak from sore losers USA took your medal, but you will always be the greatest beam worker we've ever seen! On floor I'm sorry but catalina's routine was more beautiful and artistic than raisman's, all that girl has is muscle that allows her to flip around but she has about as much grace as a ballet dancing cow, gymnastics should go back to being artistic rather than all power. Good luck catalina and she'll always be one of the greatest
Mass Shooters
It is easy to point fingers and rant about a deranged 24-year old young Ph.D. student who went berserk in a senseless killing rampage. When all is said and done, this carnage says as much about America as it is about ourselves as a society. When you consider all the postings and outrage, the mea-culpas, the homilies, the political grandstanding, and take aside all of these post-mortem passions and emotions, what makes it senseless, apart from this heinous act of acting out are these inexplicable symptoms of malignancies of a people living without any brakes..... a country where 3-month old babies, and 6-year old children, with lousy parents weaned on hype-stimulation, hyper-consumerism, hyper-Hollywood violence.... being allowed to go to movie theaters in post-midnight showings, when these little babies and kids should be in bed, past their bewitching hours. What does it say about American society when everyone is consumed by Hollywood hyperstimulation, hyper-excitement, games, violence on the movie screens.... and then blame everyone else for being a victimizer and ourselves as victims? All said, there is something which is going awry with American culture and American society --- a society without brakes, where little monsters grow up to become big monsters... big monsters spawn little monsters and go out to prey on others. Meanwhile, the "celebrity" culture of Hollywood worships cool, audacity, hambug, aggressiveness, and acting beyond the boundaries. Fact is, we have seen the "enemy," and it is all of us.... a country of uncouth, boorish, hyperstimulated people.... a culture which is hyper-individualistic, full of itself.... and in self-denial that we have a hugh drug, violence scourge in our midst. Meanwhile, our adults eat their own children. Our schools are in shambles. Our streets are no longer safe. It is today a "winner take all" society".... vapid, and barren of any moral-civil compass. And here, America's ruling elite is trying to preach "democracy, American style" to the rest of the world ? Does it make any sense at all?
Cartoons
Seriously? It's a cartoon. It's similar to Ted Turner saying that Bugs Bunny is sexist, racist, and Speedy Gonzalez makes inappropriate fun of Hispanics. First, it's a f'in cartoon. Secondly, most Hispanics that I know LOVE Speedy Gonzalez. Personally, Babak, I think our generation is taking cartoons TOO seriously. They're cartoons. Did I grow up with Bugs Bunny? Watched it every Saturday. I think I turned out find. Did I go outside and play with my friends? Yes. Did my parents ever arrange "play dates" for me? Umm..fuck no. Was there ever a term "play date" when I was growing up in the 80'?. Fuck no. Did my parents spank me when I got out of line? Hell yes. What's that called? Discipline. What's my point? That our generation takes things so freakin' seriously now, that our kids grow up not being exposed to anything, either playing video games and never going outside or having these contrived "play dates," and instead of teaching kids some discipline parents simply go "Now Billy, I'm going to count to three and you'll stop okay?" In the meantime the kid's' being a disrespectful pain in the ass and still doing the thing that you want him or her to stop doing and can stop them from doing if you just give them a hard smack on the ass which will teach them pretty damn quick who's boss.
London Riots
People will need to start realising that reliance on the state or
some other source of benefit is not going to solve their problems -
indeed the state is likely to provide less, and an assumption that this
will be the case should be a starting point for people taking control of
and planning their lives. They should begin to realise that
self-reliance and self-empowerment are likely to become more and more
the way forward and that rendering themselves less dependent on others
and less vulnerable to negative circumstances will be to their benefit
in these difficult times. E.g. - do not depend on others; rather turn
towards self-preservation within socially acceptable means. Reject the
subversive sentiment that "we down't need now educayshun, we down't need
now fowt controwl" and make the best of the educational facilities
available. With the right mindset one can learn a lot even in a crappy
school with lousy teachers. Do not get oneself pregnant in order to try
to get public housing, as a lot do. Spend one's JSA/IS carefullly in
staying alive and getting a livelihood (job is too specific and implies
dependence on somebody else). People have got to push themselves more to
get noticed in these ever more competitive days, and this should be
done positively. Smashing up neighbourhoods may well get one noticed,
but it'll also get others' backs up and is, on balance, negative.
Dick Ebersol
Mr. Ebersol's tenure at NBC sports spread over a flush era which frankly had as much to do with the cascading billions coming out of the professional sports leagues as it did with his acumen as an executive.
This is not to denigrate the man; he certainly has accomplished much, But regardless of the euphemized statements and releases sure to follow his departure, the hard truth seems to be that the golden days of tv sports are rapidly turning to silver, if not bronze, and other than the superpower exception of the NFL, perhaps even to dross. NFL owners can be accused of bare greed for certain, but it's equally true that there are disquieting tweets coming out of their protestations.
It's not entirely certain that the monstrous investments made in super-suiting stadiums will really pay off downstream. The NBA faces a tougher new financial landscape according to David Stern. Major League Baseball has become creaky and ungainly and Commissioner. Selig apparently does not appear to see himself dressed in the emperor's clothes. Hockey has been under stress for years. Golf without the stimulus provided by Tiger Woods, and more critically the economic downturn impacting participation and interest in golf will also take its toll. Tennis remains a blip. The bloated overprogrammed ESPN tv goldmine business model may be in for rough seas as more and more viewers take to the internet, a business model where dollars quickly turn to dimes.
But of all Mr. Ebersol's legacies the one which has never been really validated on naked dollar terms was the Olympics. In flush times one could argue branding, image,etc. In the no so brave new world of post 2008 frenetic media dollar chase against the likes of facebookworld, it's another story. Branding and image has become a totally fake, if not pathetically dated premise. But good luck to Mr. Ebersol, surely he'll find renewal some where in the digital wannabe companies proliferating out there.
This is not to denigrate the man; he certainly has accomplished much, But regardless of the euphemized statements and releases sure to follow his departure, the hard truth seems to be that the golden days of tv sports are rapidly turning to silver, if not bronze, and other than the superpower exception of the NFL, perhaps even to dross. NFL owners can be accused of bare greed for certain, but it's equally true that there are disquieting tweets coming out of their protestations.
It's not entirely certain that the monstrous investments made in super-suiting stadiums will really pay off downstream. The NBA faces a tougher new financial landscape according to David Stern. Major League Baseball has become creaky and ungainly and Commissioner. Selig apparently does not appear to see himself dressed in the emperor's clothes. Hockey has been under stress for years. Golf without the stimulus provided by Tiger Woods, and more critically the economic downturn impacting participation and interest in golf will also take its toll. Tennis remains a blip. The bloated overprogrammed ESPN tv goldmine business model may be in for rough seas as more and more viewers take to the internet, a business model where dollars quickly turn to dimes.
But of all Mr. Ebersol's legacies the one which has never been really validated on naked dollar terms was the Olympics. In flush times one could argue branding, image,etc. In the no so brave new world of post 2008 frenetic media dollar chase against the likes of facebookworld, it's another story. Branding and image has become a totally fake, if not pathetically dated premise. But good luck to Mr. Ebersol, surely he'll find renewal some where in the digital wannabe companies proliferating out there.
Osama Bin Laden
#2. Osama bin Laden did not attack us due to our freedoms...the fact that the U.S. chose, all by its terrified self, to begin walking--from 9/11--a path of ever diminishing freedoms is just icing on the cake.
Osama financed an independent anti-Capitalistic idea to attack the World Trade Centers and seats of U.S. government, as these are seen--by a great many individuals living in 2nd and 3rd World nations--to be the strength of our Imperialistic economic and military behavior.
The U.S. mans foreign military bases all over the world--imagine if China were to establish a military base on Oʻahu, Key Largo or Martha's Vineyard.
Our capitalistic drive has turned the world into one big source of McJobs. We control the lifestyles of 3rd Worlders working for peanuts and no benefits in our overseas factories. We foul their environments. We demand that they give us their oil for much less than the European market.
No, it wasn't our freedoms. It was our abuse of these freedoms. We are a target of terrorist attacks not because they are Muslim, not because we are Christians, Americans or relatively free.
We are a terrorist target because we use our military might to back the exploitation of foreign lands and lifestyle purely for our own luxury purposes. We have robbed nations of their sovereign right to establish and maintain their own socio-economic cultures. They now eat our burgers, drink our cola, dress in our gangsta clothing and rap-out songs of street violence.
If this were happening to you, maybe you wouldn't attack...but you'd certainly know someone who would--who'd trained for it--and who's just now waiting for their chance. See Less
Osama financed an independent anti-Capitalistic idea to attack the World Trade Centers and seats of U.S. government, as these are seen--by a great many individuals living in 2nd and 3rd World nations--to be the strength of our Imperialistic economic and military behavior.
The U.S. mans foreign military bases all over the world--imagine if China were to establish a military base on Oʻahu, Key Largo or Martha's Vineyard.
Our capitalistic drive has turned the world into one big source of McJobs. We control the lifestyles of 3rd Worlders working for peanuts and no benefits in our overseas factories. We foul their environments. We demand that they give us their oil for much less than the European market.
No, it wasn't our freedoms. It was our abuse of these freedoms. We are a target of terrorist attacks not because they are Muslim, not because we are Christians, Americans or relatively free.
We are a terrorist target because we use our military might to back the exploitation of foreign lands and lifestyle purely for our own luxury purposes. We have robbed nations of their sovereign right to establish and maintain their own socio-economic cultures. They now eat our burgers, drink our cola, dress in our gangsta clothing and rap-out songs of street violence.
If this were happening to you, maybe you wouldn't attack...but you'd certainly know someone who would--who'd trained for it--and who's just now waiting for their chance. See Less
1. Osama was created by Pakistani and Saudi secret services, which were in cahoots with the USA.
2. The idea that the CIA was directly involved is not so important as the reality that the CIA was instigating, advising, and sometimes directing the Anti-Soviet effort, and so indirectly Osama Bin Laden was working for the CIA.
3. Directly he was and is, in bed with Pakistani and Saudi Agents.
Maybe sometimes with official government and other-times with rogue elements of the government but it is misdirection to say that Pakistan had no knowledge of his presence there, because their secret service keeps tabs on everything and did so even more so 5 years ago when he first moved to where he was found.
The honest thing to say is that perhaps the current government has no clue, but this government was put in place when the military stood down from direct dictatorship a few years ago. That senior officials know nothing of this should only be embarrassing to the Pakistani people, because that is an indication of who really is still in control.
But of course we can expect neither honesty, nor journalistic integrity right now, because our governments have set things up so we only hear what the governments are willing to tell us as filtered through a press that is increasingly credulous when it counts while continuing to be sensationalist where it is total distraction. The reality remains that Bin Laden was preaching from a Wahabi/Moslem Brotherhood tradition not far from Saudi Orthodoxy, and that Al Qaeda was and is funded by Rogue elements of the Saudi rulers as well as from other quarters. The reality also remains that, nevertheless, this intervention shows that these guys aren't far from being rolled up. See Less
2. The idea that the CIA was directly involved is not so important as the reality that the CIA was instigating, advising, and sometimes directing the Anti-Soviet effort, and so indirectly Osama Bin Laden was working for the CIA.
3. Directly he was and is, in bed with Pakistani and Saudi Agents.
Maybe sometimes with official government and other-times with rogue elements of the government but it is misdirection to say that Pakistan had no knowledge of his presence there, because their secret service keeps tabs on everything and did so even more so 5 years ago when he first moved to where he was found.
The honest thing to say is that perhaps the current government has no clue, but this government was put in place when the military stood down from direct dictatorship a few years ago. That senior officials know nothing of this should only be embarrassing to the Pakistani people, because that is an indication of who really is still in control.
But of course we can expect neither honesty, nor journalistic integrity right now, because our governments have set things up so we only hear what the governments are willing to tell us as filtered through a press that is increasingly credulous when it counts while continuing to be sensationalist where it is total distraction. The reality remains that Bin Laden was preaching from a Wahabi/Moslem Brotherhood tradition not far from Saudi Orthodoxy, and that Al Qaeda was and is funded by Rogue elements of the Saudi rulers as well as from other quarters. The reality also remains that, nevertheless, this intervention shows that these guys aren't far from being rolled up. See Less
Jesus of Nazareth
The Coptic Church is one of the oldest Christian denominations, still using Aramaic, the language of Jesus of Nazareth, in its ceremonies. Most probably other aspects of the Church would be more authentic than modern adaptations. The picture of Jesus shown in the article depicts a more Arabic/Jewish man than the Anglicized version worshiped by most Americans. His hair and beard are darker and his face is fatter. Forensic studies of bones found in Nazareth from the time of Jesus indicate that males of that period were short and stocky, with very bad teeth. It can be assumed that their clothes would not be radiantly white and lack of bathing and sanitary facilities would most likely cause body odor. The conventional depiction of the tall, thin, light-haired man in immaculately white robes would not be harmful if “Christians” would not view it as a God-given revelation. The world and Christianity, itself, would be better served if people viewed Jesus and his precepts as they actual were and as they were meant to be viewed. During the last several weeks, I have received many Christmas Cards depicting Angels with blond hair and blue eyes and other Anglicized characterizations of Bible figures. Even Heaven has become an Anglo/Saxon haven. Modern “Christianity' deals in trivia; ignoring the essentials. Jesus of Nazareth was a poor man who taught empowerment of the weak and poor. He would open the beautiful halls of our churches to the poor and homeless for shelter and distribute their riches to feed and clothe them. That, of course, would be unthinkable to most of today's “Christians.” If we despise our own white brothers and sisters, how can we be expected to love all of the rest of the non-white, Non-Christian world. Religion today is a political phenomena not a spiritual one.
Job Searching
Enthusiasm, présence, creativity, how articulate, confident and honest the candidate is.
These are the most important things rather than thousands years of experience -someone who will challenge and suggest better solutions- esp in media.
Free advice: apply for jobs you like and most important you enjoy, no matter how hard it is...cause if you like it you can do it
@ David -PS:education doesn't work all the time, good exp:the most powerful entrepreneurs and top businessmen never graduated. Dhirubhai Ambani, Bill Gates & more.....
These are the most important things rather than thousands years of experience -someone who will challenge and suggest better solutions- esp in media.
Free advice: apply for jobs you like and most important you enjoy, no matter how hard it is...cause if you like it you can do it
@ David -PS:education doesn't work all the time, good exp:the most powerful entrepreneurs and top businessmen never graduated. Dhirubhai Ambani, Bill Gates & more.....
Geography
Being an American who has lived many years in the UK, I find myself refreshed yet not surprised by Prince Andrew's comments. These days, Americans with all their politically correct disabilities, find a sideways glance to be rude, blasphemous or somehow offensive. AhmedAllan is an example of this, "America is the greatest", "Rah, rah attitude. I used to be that way until I had the opportunity to travel and live all over the world. Finding out I had been brainwashed by the American media empire and the government was a hard pill to swallow but my only other option to acknowledging it was to continue to bury my head in the sand.
Prince Andrew may not be quite the ticket in everyone's eyes but, at least he has the intestinal fortitude to say what others are too cowardly to say. And, if you care to look at the facts, he's more correct than you may want to admit. Kudos Prince Andrew,- say it like it is - God save the Queen!
Prince Andrew may not be quite the ticket in everyone's eyes but, at least he has the intestinal fortitude to say what others are too cowardly to say. And, if you care to look at the facts, he's more correct than you may want to admit. Kudos Prince Andrew,- say it like it is - God save the Queen!
Predator Drones
I'm a pakistani, living in Pak and all I can say is that this stupid war mongering and cooked up nonsense needs to end for the sake and well being of the American people who I greatly respect and admire and with whom I had the privilege togo to college with in Iowa. Let me make one thing very clear, the Pakistani people have no ill-feelings twrds the American people, merely the presence of American or Nato troops in Afghanistan and the incessant nonsensical drone attacks under the guise of killing 'the militant' when in actuality kills the poor shepherd and his family, creates enuf hatred to carry attacks on the innocent 19yr old American soldier who himself is unaware of the true meaning of this war. The reality is that there is a mad rush by America to surround the Caspian sea with its estimated $13 trillion oil wealth and not OBL or talibans (these are simply a bunch of guys trying their best to rid foreign forces out of their country). I pray the American populace would wake up and evaluate the nefarious designs of sum corrupt and greedy politicans likes of which we have seen alrdy...dick cheney and the jing bang lot whose sole motive is to invade and usurp the rights of others first thru propaganda vis-a-vis channels like FOX and then thru ur powerful military machine.
Adulthood
The (sad, sad) implication is that adulthood is some sort of prison, with all of those boundaries previously tested re-established in an incredibly confining manner. And while society desires conformity, it’s the adult who has the brain plasticity, the support, and the means to actually traverse those boundaries in a sane and balanced way. He or she just chooses not to, and calls this an impossibility. Adam Phillips writes in his essay, “Truancy Now”: “A part of this testing, this experimentation, that begins in adolescence and, if things go wrong, is given up on in adolescence. But the adolescents who give up on this fundamental project in adolescence may turn into adults who secretly envy adolescents; who believe that adolescents are having the best kinds of life available.”
It’s not just teenagers who should be watching the “It Gets Better” videos. They are wonderful reminders of the need to keep testing boundaries, of where life can go once you’ve bottomed out. I suffer from teenage brain’s object permanence issues sometimes. But the videos remind me of a quotation from the greater writer and boundary-violator Katherine Mansfield, who wrote in her journals:
It’s not just teenagers who should be watching the “It Gets Better” videos. They are wonderful reminders of the need to keep testing boundaries, of where life can go once you’ve bottomed out. I suffer from teenage brain’s object permanence issues sometimes. But the videos remind me of a quotation from the greater writer and boundary-violator Katherine Mansfield, who wrote in her journals:
I had the feeling that the same thing happened to nearly everybody whom I knew and whom I did not know. No sooner was their youth, with the little force and impetus characteristic of youth, done, than they stopped growing. At the very moment that one felt that now was the time to gather oneself together, to use one's whole strength, to take control, to be an adult, in fact, they seemed content to swap the darling wish of their hearts for innumerable little wishes…. They deceived themselves, of course.
Africa
Tom, enough cannot be said about the Western Media’s role including your own organization in portraying Africa the way most Westerners still perceive it. But that’s their lost because Europe isn’t resource rich and they’ll wake up when it finally hits their pockets. Hopefully it won’t be too late by then. Until recently it hadn’t occurred to me that it’s the media’s business model which drives its reporting not only in Africa, but everywhere else. Most people, by nature, are attracted to negative news and for centuries Africa offered an easy lay-up. It’s not just the news media, it’s the other types of media (movies, cartoons, books, etc…). Western scientists and researchers have gone a great length to try to demonstrate that Africa doesn’t have a past like other people. The way it’s people were treated and continue to be speaks for itself. McKinsey’s June Quaterly offers an unprecedented insight into this new Africa you are attempting to make wake us up to – that’s been rising under the radar. In 2 weeks time, Africa will host the World’s biggest game, Soccer. Let’s see which Africa the media will show the world.
Grassroots
There is a good chance that football will return to its socialist roots, especially after the financial crisis. All the foreign investors, corporations, sponsors, etc are having to respond to the economic conditions that are still prevalent, and their lessened involvement in the game can only be good for the game itself and the working class fans. Of course this isn't going to happen overnight, and it will take a long time potentially, but I do think we are seeing a new way of thinking, away from free market fundamentalism and free market financial capitalism, towards a more participatory democratic system with a democratic socialist economic system that serves the interests of the many and not the few.
Unfortunately, if it is true that the benefits that locals are getting is at the expense of travelling fans, it is a bit of a disappointment, because the world cup is meant to be world event and is a great opportunity for fans of different countries to mingle and experience different cultures. So it is a shame if others have to lose out for someone to benefit. This is a further indictment of the current socioeconomic/political system most of the world is following. The system is such that for one group to benefit, another normally has to suffer some loss. This is the way the financial and corporate elite who rule the world maintain the status quo by engendering a divide and rule policy. Ensure the proletariat and the lumpen and petit bourgeois fight amongst themselves, while they benefit from the conflict and keep control of the institutions that control social, economic and political decisions made all over the world.
Unfortunately, if it is true that the benefits that locals are getting is at the expense of travelling fans, it is a bit of a disappointment, because the world cup is meant to be world event and is a great opportunity for fans of different countries to mingle and experience different cultures. So it is a shame if others have to lose out for someone to benefit. This is a further indictment of the current socioeconomic/political system most of the world is following. The system is such that for one group to benefit, another normally has to suffer some loss. This is the way the financial and corporate elite who rule the world maintain the status quo by engendering a divide and rule policy. Ensure the proletariat and the lumpen and petit bourgeois fight amongst themselves, while they benefit from the conflict and keep control of the institutions that control social, economic and political decisions made all over the world.
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Or a CIA-like organization created and supported him. His profile is as a recruit, not a leader with an agenda. Rather than a concerted plan, each act of violence sent a message and the messages are probably related in that they were in response to some other ongoing event.
2. Bin Laden attacked us because of our freedoms.
This never made any sense. How do you win? Why would a recruit blow themselves up? We now know he was an avid consumer of Pepsi and Coke, junk food. Soda, sugar water, is one of our most useless exports, yet many of the attacks worldwide were of a commercial nature. He was no idealist setting examples.
3. Al-Qaeda’s ideology has nothing to do with Islam.
We know from the Civil War, there are Causes and there are reasons and they may not be closely related. The Cause of the terrorists quickly became a defense of Islam. Most Americans (99%) knew nothing about Islam, let alone want to attack it. The Cause was a good recruiting tool to find zealots that would blow themselves up, much like the Civil War had men charging into withering rifle fire with grape and canister raking the open field. We overlooked the fact that many in the Middle East send their kids to school in America or Britain. Lately we have seen Middle East uprisings for the same types of freedoms. By whom were his children educated?
4. Ayman al-Zawahiri, not bin Laden, is the real brains of al-Qaeda.
A doctor? It is more likely the head is a military person that uses body counts as a tactic. Why did Bush lose interest in OBL as a target?
5. Bin Laden’s death is symbolically important but irrelevant to the war on terror.
Hopefully the intelligence community will take a deep breath and review all that has happened, in light of OBL's location and accessibility to the military in Pakistan. Obama made an important intelligence decision when he decided on a precision raid to establish identity and information collection over wholesale bombing. See Less