Self-help gurus dont come much deadlier than James Arthur Ray, a cult-ish charlatan who became a star thanks to 2006s film The Secret and the publicity given to it, and him, by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Larry King.

Having achieved lucrative heights, however, Ray saw his empire come crashing down on Oct. 8, 2009, when three attendees at his Sedona, Arizona, Spiritual Warrior retreatKirby Brown, James Shore and Liz Neumandied as a result of a sweltering sweat lodge challenge, and Ray himself fled the scene without taking responsibility for the insanely reckless incident hed personally overseen. Having preached the law of attraction, which contends that our lives are shaped by the positive (or negative) energy and thoughts we put out into the world, Rays career was rightfully shattered by this tragedy: the New Age businessman was eventually convicted of three counts of negligent homicide and sentenced to two years in jail, of which he served only 20 months before being released in 2013.

Rays rise, fall and shameless attempted comeback is the focus of Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment, a new Wondery podcast (available now) created and hosted by journalist Matt Stroud, who first reported on the story back in 2013. Recounting Rays scandalous tale in far greater detail than Oxygen networks recent Deadly Cults episode on the subject, the six-part true-crime series is guided by candid interviews with former Ray acolytes who survived that fateful 2009 weekend. Yet its most poignant voice comes courtesy of Ginny Brown, mother of Kirby Brown, whose anguish and fury over this fatal turn of events is palpable, and who, along with her husband George, has channeled her grief into a nonprofit organization called Seek Safely which aims to create regulations and standards for a self-help industry that currently has neither.

Thats a particularly pressing issue given that, since leaving prison, Ray has restarted his business, reprehensibly recasting the Spiritual Warrior calamity as part of his narrative of personal growth. With the recent release of Guru, as well as Browns own book about her traumatic ordeal, This Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby died (co-written with daughter Jean Brown), we spoke with both Ginny Brown and Matt Stroud about whether they view Ray as a cult leader, Oprahs silence on the man she helped turn into a phenomenon, and the self-help industry reforms that Seek Safely is striving to make a reality.

The word cult is only fleetingly uttered in Guru, but the topic is discussed at length in the bonus Q&A episode. Do you view him as a cult leader?

Ginny: Kirby certainly didnt go to Spiritual Warrior because she thought she was joining a cult. In the traditional sense of a cult, this was not a cult. However, there was a leader who was using the tactics that are often used in a cult to create suggestibility, and then people have given their power away before they even realize thats happened. Some of the people who were there might not even believe that they actually did that, but you cant have rational decision-making after a lot of sensory deprivation, and the kinds of things he was doing with people throughout the week.

What differentiates Rays seminars from a traditional cult?

Matt: I agree with Rick Ross, who runs the Cult Education Institute, who says that with cults, youre looking at somebody who is pursuing a religion or a faith because they believe it will help them ascend to a higher position, whether that is into heaven or with a group that will be a part of some kind of godly future. With James Arthur Ray and his adherents, I equate it to buying a self-help book: youre buying a book that will help you improve your business, try to find the next stage in your career, and try to find better relationships. Its working on yourself to improve yourself. Thats what James Arthur Ray was selling, and thats what people were buying.

As Ginny pointed out, some of the tactics he used were similar to those that you might see in a cult. But I think theyre closer to what you might see through groups like Landmarkthese large group awareness trainings where youre trying to get a bunch of people to have personal revelations in a group. The idea is personal self-development, and though there are some similarities between what cult leaders do and what James is doing, his motivation and his followers motivations were self-improvement and betterment rather than ascending to some higher plane.

Ginny, how did you get involved with Guruand was your decision to participate made more difficult by the fact that it meant reliving this terrible trauma?

Ginny: I think from the very beginning, we realized as a family that we needed to do something to keep this story alive, and to make it very public. I realized that the other families werent in a position to do that. My husband and I are both therapists, so we had a fairly good idea of what had actually happened. We were gathering a lot of factual information from the investigators, and Georges nephewBob Magnaniniwas helping us. My nephew Tommy McPheely came right away to help us manage media. Ive done a lot of public speaking. I wasnt uncomfortable going public. I felt that was absolutely necessary because this never should have happened. This is ridiculous! You dont go to a self-help event to lose your life. And then what Ray allowed to happen afterwards was so egregious to us that we said we have to shine a light on this man.

The more we learned about the self-help industry, we realized theres a tremendous amount of charlatans out there, because it is big money. The potential for big money is here. There are some wonderful leaders, but there are also a lot of people who are going to be hurt and scammed. So from the very beginning, even though it was painful and difficult, I felt a moral obligation to be very public about this, in order to alert people to the fact that theres danger here.

The other reason I wanted to be public too was because my daughter was an amazing person whose life was robbed from her, and she was robbed from us. I wanted the world to know her. I got involved with Matt pretty early in the story; he covered this for The Verge, and it was probably one of the best pieces of journalism covering this whole story in the beginning. We developed a relationship over the years. Ive been burned by media people, but Ive always trusted Matt, and his intentions and integrity. Eventually my younger daughter Jean and I, weve written our story. Our book was just releasedits called This Sweet Life: how we lived after Kirby diedto tell our own story of what we went through, and what really happened.

Ginny, you attended one of Rays seminars with Kirby. Did you get a sense of why people found him, and his teachings, so captivating?

Ginny: First of all, hes a tremendously gifted speaker. His ability to command the attention of an audience is pretty interesting. He uses a lot of neuro-linguistic programming-type teaching methods which are very effective in a large group. Hes a storyteller. He speaks with such command and authority that, nave me, it never occurred to me that you would stand in front of hundreds of people and lie about your background, your knowledge, your trainingwhich is what he did. I did not question when he showed pictures up on the screen of places he had been all over the world, and what he had studied and learned and had to share with people. I didnt question the fact that a lot of that was B.S.it simply was not true.

Ray is now using Kirby, James Shore and Liz Neumans deaths as part of his redemptive learning-through-tragedy narrative. Even more than his comeback, were you surprised by this repugnant strategy?

Ginny: What surprised me more than him trying to reinvent his career and using the deaths as the springboard, so to speak, was that CNN would allow that voice to be so loud. That, to me, was so egregious, so upsettingto sit in that theater in Tribeca [at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival screening of Enlighten Us] and watch him on the screen, crying that his three best friends [had died], and he had to live with it. Yeah, he walked over their bodies and left them in the dirt and never looked back. Dont tell me these were your friends. These were your customers that you did not care about. And then to say that Sedona had to happen so I could go through this trial in my life, and come out with an experience of redemption and now I can share that with others, is just horrific to me. So I wasnt completely surprised, but it certainly makes me angry. If he had gone public when he came out of prison, saying, After being in prison for almost two years, I realized the way I conducted that event was completely wrong, and I did all these different things to get compliance and then I ran away in the middle of the night, and blah blah blahif he had gone that route, we wouldnt be where we are today. We wouldnt be here.

Yeah, he walked over their bodies and left them in the dirt and never looked back. Dont tell me these were your friends.

Are you also disappointed that Oprah hasnt spoken out against Ray, given her instrumental role in making The Secretand himsuch a phenomenon?

Ginny: Kirby thought Oprah was everything. She loved Oprah. Oprah has done a lot of very good things in the world. But after this happened, the fact that she would not address this in a real way She would have a plagiarist [James Frey] on her show and, in front of a national audience, take that person to task for what he had done. But she wouldnt have James Ray, or even speak about what he had done in SedonaI just figured her lawyers said, stay as far away as possible, because they could sue you. Thats what I think happened. Yes, that really disappoints me, when you see someone whos that powerful, and has that national platform, and doesnt use it to do the right thing.

In response to the Sedona tragedy, youve founded Seek Safely, which among other things has developed a Promise that outlines principles to which self-help practitioners should adhere. What is it that the self-help industry needs most?

Ginny: In trying to see if we could get some legislation passedwith Consumer Protection in New York, we have some pending legislation that weve been working on for almost four yearswhat weve learned is that its very difficult to try to define this industry; its very diffuse. Therefore, its very difficult to regulate it in terms of credentialing and licensing. I really believe a lot of this has to be an educational effortto educate the consumer to ask more questions and to be more aware of their surroundings, and whats going on in the environment. When someone continually tells you that youre more than your bodywhat James Ray was telling them was that the signs of heat stroke were actually markers of their success to have a breakthrough, and this is why theyd invested their time and their moneythat was simply a lie! It was simply a lie. Your mind is very powerful, and there are things that you dont think that you can do, that you can do. Physical challenges have their place. But to put people in such a dangerous situation, and to then lie to them, is like telling them you can fly off the top of Mount Everest. Its ridiculous!

Wed love to have practitioners sign the Promise, not that that would necessarily make them keep the Promise. But at least then your followers would know just what they should expect. That this is the code of behavior that you should expect when you go to an event that this person is giving. Theres something wrong if they dont value that, and if they dont have a risk-management plan, or medical personnel on hand to manage your risk or to protect you if something goes wrong. Id love to have practitioners sign the Promise. Were trying to educate the consumer about, what are the red flags? What do you need to pay attention to, whether its on the internet, or buying a book, or going to an event?

Ray has done a media apology tour of sorts, but he refused to participate in Guru. Do you feel like hes still trying to hide the true extent of his culpability for the deaths he caused, including from potential new clients?

Matt: I dont think Id say hes hiding; he did come out with that book, The Business of Redemption, that talks about it. He addresses it in his way. He has just decided that any confrontational media appearance, or conversation with someone who might be confrontational, is not something he wants to deal with. Its pretty cowardly on his part. And what he does instead is he floods Facebook and social media and podcast outlets with these tiny bits of non-wisdom, I think to overwhelm any searches that might get to deeper investigative reporting on what hes done, and his lack of confronting people who want to ask him questions.

In 2014, he spoke to me on background onlytheres very short tape of it in the podcastand that was I think largely because my employer paid to send me to one of his events. He actually received some money for that, and he felt some obligation to talk to someone who was technically a customer at the time. But as soon as the conversation went toward me actually quoting him on the record, he pushed against it, because I dont think he wants to talk about this event in any kind of real way. Thats only speculation, because of course Ive been trying to get him on the record for at least six years, and hes consistently decided that hes either not going to respond, or to reject my requests through intermediaries.

As you reveal in the podcast, Ginny, the only time you heard from Ray was in the immediate aftermath of Kirbys death. Do you have a desire to directly confront him about what he did?

Ginny: I was approached by someone who wanted me to go on national television to say that I had forgiven him. I made it very clear that Im not going to harbor unforgiveness; Im not going to harbor bitterness or revenge. Everyone deserves a second chance, and Ray does too. I just wish he had chosen a different place for his second chanceor had understood what he had done. Because hes either delusional and still doesnt really understand that he caused these deaths, or hes sociopathic and really doesnt care. Either way, the man is dangerous. I wouldnt do a public-forgiveness thing because I dont think people understand forgiveness. They often think that when you forgive someone, it means what they did is okay. And the fact of the matter is, I will never trust him. I dont trust him, or what he says. He lies.

Ive never really wanted to try to see him or confront him. It was very difficult and painful to see him at the trial. When Ray says, I am so sorry this happened, thats not an apology. Thats not a recognition that he did things that caused these deaths. Im sorry it happened too! So thats not an apology. He keeps saying, I cant apologize enough, but he doesnt understand what an apology is. An apology is taking responsibility for the fact that your behaviors caused this to happen. For me, what has been most important is that, knowing what happened, I have done everything in my power to warn people, which is why Ive taken every interview, and every opportunity to speak publicly, and its why Jean and I wrote the book. I want to make sure that Ive done everything I can, including by having this organization to educate people about self-help, and that you can continue to seekits important to seek!but you want to do it safely. You have to have open eyes as well as an open heart.

And I want people to know who Kirby is as well. I want her life to inspire people, because she lived in a pretty incredible way. But I also want her death to be something that theyll remember as a warning, to be much more aware and careful of the people you believe, what it is you believe, and the circumstances that you put yourself in.

See original here:

My Daughter Died at the Hands of Oprah's New Age Guru - The Daily Beast

2020s summer blockbuster season has been put on hold because of the pandemic, but that doesnt mean we cant celebrate the movies from the past that we flocked out of the sun and into air conditioning for. Welcome to The Ringers Return to Summer Blockbuster Season, where well feature different summer classics each week.

In times such as these, the question of what it means to feel alive has a way of cropping up. Locked up at home, seeing no one, going nowhere, thinking a lot more than usual about our premature or eventual end and the role we could have in that of other peoplewe are focusing on survival rather than on living. Many are determined to get back to normal, and some are already willing to attempt a restaurant outing or a day at the beach, whatever the potential risks. But are we really solely defined by the way we spend our money, the cities we take selfies in, the meals and the clothes we can afford? Is that what being alive is all about?

In Kathryn Bigelows 1991 classic Point Break, a group of devoted surfers dont simply refuse to take note of the Beach Closed signsthey seek them out, robbing Los Angeles banks to fund their daredevil world tour. Their motivations, however, seem loftier than financial freedom: Money is great, but have you ever, to quote one of these beach boys, had sex with gods? The surfers are looking to feel the ultimate rush. The goal isnt to go on holiday, but to make every day holya communion with nature, detached from a capitalist system.

Yet Point Break lingers not primarily because of its antiestablishment sentiment. As spiritual as the surfers it portrays are, Point Break remains, at the same time, a deeply silly movie. The very concept of bank-robbing surfer dudes is as ridiculous on paper as it is on the screen; it came from producer Rick King, who, while sitting on a beach, remembered an article hed read about Los Angeles being the bank robbery capital of the USA. The agents chasing these surfing criminals are some of the most incompetent policemen in the history of American cinema. The man who somehow manages to learn to surf in a few weeks to infiltrate the robbers crew has the improbable and unforgettable name of Johnny Utah. (He also happens to be a former Rose Bowlwinning quarterback obviously.) Both Johnny and Keanu Reeves, the actor who plays him, are astonishing in their choices. In a word, theres a lot to love and to laugh at in Point Break. But all these apparent filmmaking faux pas are in line with the films guiding principle: To really feel alive, one must let go of and transcend all rules and conventions.

The idea of cinematic realism seems simple, but as filmmakers have sought to make their movies as pure as possible over the years, this striving has turned into an accepted collection of stylistic rules that a director or screenwriter must follow to achieve believability. Realism has been codified. Point Break, on the other hand, plays fast and loose with these rules and places itself outside of this traditionparadoxically achieving another kind of rawness. This begins at the script level: Utah and his older partner Pappas (the precious Gary Busey) repeatedly decide to pursue armed criminals alone, without backup; they miss the robbers takeover of a bank because Pappas wanted not one, but two meatball sandwiches; all their nonsensical decisions make them more affecting and, dare I say, more human and believable.

Witnessing Reevess performance is its own transcendental experience. Although Utah is an extremely high-strung, stuck-up young guy, this cannot fully account for Reevess often stilted and self-conscious acting. His affected line deliveries make evident the films artificialitynot to ruin it, but simply to amuse us; to enjoy this performance, the viewer has to embrace its strangeness. Ultimately, to those open to it, the effect is one of astonishment, hilarity, and awe. In his scenes with Utahs love interest, Tyler (Lori Petty), Reeves is, however, more comfortable, perhaps because he was more used to playing romantic parts at the time. Yet in these interactionsthanks to Bigelows sense for real, more pragmatic romancethe characters budding love is not syrupy and movie-like, but just awkward and funny enough. The energetic Pettys Who cares! after Utah concludes their meet-cute by shouting his name is a breath of fresh air.

The most transgressive of all Point Break characters is, naturally, its main surfer-robber. Bodhi, played by a deeply committed Patrick Swayze, doesnt as much defy gravity in his surfing and skydiving, but rather rejects simple binariesbetween up and down, man and Earth, friend and foe, life and death. We are here to show those guys that are inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human spirit is still alive, he explains to his teammates. The goal is to continuously transcend the limits of society, of the human body, of life as we know it. If you want the ultimate, youve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. Its not tragic to die doing what you love. And so, to him armed bank robbery is rational: attacking the system in order to pursue enlightenment. When he discovers that Utah is an FBI agent, his reaction is first to offer him the most life-affirming experience he can think of: a sky-diving trip, during which all of Bodhis guys and Utah hold hands, united in their fall and feeling of weightlessness. Bodhi is not the usual movie villain, even if he also arranges to have Tyler be taken hostage, a reveal that shows his embracing of life and death as two sides of the same coin has turned dangerous. His name is a truncated version of the Sanskrit word bodhisattva, which refers to a being that is enlightened and on its way to becoming a Buddha. If Bodhis ideals seem ridiculous, the viewer is also made to reflect on that judgment. Has society made us too critical of those who try to be free? And have movies, originally meant to help our liberation through artistic expression, actually done the same?

Bigelows directing heightens these grand ideals and this rule-breaking to striking levels. She helps the audience let themselves be carried by the waves. Her slow-motion photography of surfers against the sun, their bodies glistening and their faces ecstatic, makes us feel as though we were ourselves on the board. On land, too, she knows how to film these athletic people with both respect and fascination: In the beach football scene, we are allowed to simply take in all that visual pleasure, as though casually people-watching from under our sun umbrellas. Like Bodhi, Bigelow also bridges the divide between man and the elements: The waves are majestic, charging beasts that humans dont control but respectfully follow, and the endless sky seems to carry the divers along. A special system of individual cranes for each actor and for the cameraperson was created to shoot the sky-diving scene from only a few meters up, thus letting the actors feel safe and comfortable enough to evoke this complete abandon to nature. The inclusion in the film of one of Swayzes real jumps off the plane reinforces the effect even further: The risk was real, but so was the invigorating sensation.

Since Point Break is a film of extremes, it allows much space for humorlaughing is, after all, always a rebuke in the face of our finitude and inconsequence, a lapse in our memory where we are in the present and not concerned with the future. It would be a shame to ignore Point Breaks comedic value in favor of its spiritual messagerather, the two go together. Much of the exhilarating thrill of the film comes from its brazen desire to be entertaining and ridiculous. In the opening sequence, cross-edited with beautiful footage of surfers on waves, Utah is shown breaking his speed record at the gun range, under pouring rain and in a T-shirt that reveals his sculpted body. He turns around, thumbs up and smiles like a kid: The tone is set.

This is no self-serious macho cop movie. Sillier still is the fact that one key piece of evidence that makes Pappas suspect the surfers is the tan line above the naked butt of a robber captured by CCTV. Bigelow lets Utah, Pappas, and Bodhi be both somewhat stereotypically masculine and still regular humans, with their quirks, their jokes, and their flaws. Its impossible to speculate on what the film would have looked like had it been directed by a manperhaps by Bigelows cowriter and then-husband, James Cameronbut it seems fair to say, taking into account Bigelows following films, that her eye for the sensitivity of tough men is the key to Point Breaks mix of joyousness and profundity.

The relationship between Utah and Bodhi is allowed to flourish in ways unusual and refreshing for Hollywood. Bigelows sense of humor frees them from the narrative conventions that would have required them to be simply sworn enemies. Instead, as they fight off Nazi surfers (why not?) with their bare hands together, they become close friends; surfing side by side only brings them closer, in a bromance for the ages where Bodhi takes on the role of guru for his young protg. When things turn sour between the bank robber and the cop, the connection gets more tense: Bodhis statement You want me so bad, its like acid in your mouth is worthy of a Bond villain, but in Bigelows camera, it is both funnier and more meaningful. Their love is as romantic as the one that Utah feels for Tyler, if not more. Here, too, traditional distinctions are relaxed: All kinds of affections are placed on the same level. The fact that Tyler herself kind of looks like Utah, with her short black hair, also hints at this understanding of people as people, not strictly defined by gender norms; Bigelows light touch makes divides disappear and connections freer and funnier. (By contrast, the naked women in the raid scene are cleary objectified and discarded by the Nazi surfers.)

Perhaps, in the end, being alive means going with the flow, freeing ourselves from arbitrary barriers, and seeking pleasure in the fleeting moments when the wave seems to envelop us in its tube, or when a joke or a weird and intense performance makes us laugh. Its about keeping the human spirit alive, not by robbing banks, but by watching characters jump off planes and have conversations mid-air, as though they could hear themselves. As FBI Director Ben Harp (the ever-intense John C. McGinley) tells Utah: You know nothing. In fact, you know less than nothing. If you even knew that you knew nothing, that would be something, but you dont. Thankfully, Point Break shows us that we know nothing of what a movie can be.

The rest is here:

Point Break Is the Silliest Classic Ever Made - The Ringer

Getting branded with a tattoo is one of the most common forms of self-expression, but not all designs have meanings that are easy to interpret just by looking at them. A prime example would be eye tattoos or more specifically, third-eye tattoos.

For the uninitiated, your third eye is located on your forehead, slightly above the middle of your eyebrows. A spiritual concept in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, it's often associated with consciousness, enlightenment, and intuition. Usually opening your third eye can mean having more foresight or greater intuition ahead of certain situations or being able to sense what's coming or what decisions you should make without much explanation.

When people get this drawn or tattooed, it's normally pictured as an eye that's enclosed within a triangle, and you can get it inked anywhere on your body, not necessarily where your third eye should be. Whether you're looking to get the symbol as your first tattoo or you're making plans to add to your collection, read ahead to check out some third-eye tattoo designs that may just inspire you on your body-art journey.

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12 Third-Eye Tattoos That Just Might Inspire You on Your Body-Art Journey - POPSUGAR Beauty Austrailia

"When we face the target, it is like a mirror that reflects our heart. We must confront ourselves in this mirror. Takeuchi Masakuni

Few archery traditions take hold of the imagination like kyudo.

The drawing of the bow and the skill of individual archers have been romanticised throughout history. But to watch kyudo for yourself is to witness a sport embodying unsurpassed elegance and ritual. What on the surface seems to be an essential simplicity is anything but.

It is also one of the more distinctively Japanese cultural expressions, a mark of a society closed off for hundreds of years. The image of formal kyudoka, with their long asymmetric bows in a bare hall, is one of the most iconic martial arts traditions.

On a kyudo range, nothing from the way you pick up your arrows to shoot, to the way you pull them from the target is by chance. Nothing. Everything is carefully delineated, with each element of the shot nocking, setting up, drawing and releasing having multiple elements, each with a distinct name in Japanese.

Watching kyudo, even just on YouTube, gives you a sense of the depth of the processand the difficulty required to master the art.

Kyudo (pronounced cue-dough) literally means, the way of the bow.Older military traditions in Japan were called kyujitsu, which means something closer to skill with the bow, the jitsu part giving a fighting context.

It is a martial art in the distinctly East Asian sense, and it is best seen alongside the better-known Japanese combat sports like judo and karate. While it draws from feudal and samurai roots, kyudo, as practised now,is only a few 100 years old.

Today, many archers practise kyudo as a sport, with accuracy being paramount. However, the goal of most kyudokas is seisha seichu: Correct shooting is correct hitting.

The form is the essential element; unlike the more flexible forms of archery, kyudo is formalised into distinct steps that must be followed in a precise and distinct order. However, the forms are not entirely immovable, and modern kyudo worldwide broadly follows three different schools, each one emphasising different aspects of the art.

The version best known outside of Japanis seitei or sport kyudo: the basic form pulling elements from all the schools, and more grade-oriented and geared to competition. According to the Nippon Kyd Federation, the supreme goal of kyudo is achieving a state of shin-zen-bi, which roughly translates as truth-goodness-beauty.

The idea is that when archers shoot correctly, with truth, good spirit and attitude, beautiful shooting will naturally follow. (This idea, removed from aspiritual context, is present in modern competitionarchery traditions, too.)

It is not enough just to shoot accurately; the shot must be made with the utmost sincerity and commitment, to manifest a hidden power.

Another key difference between kyudo and competition archery is the commitment to a club and practising in a group. The very experienced can practice at home or on other ranges, but kyudo is very much a collective discipline: a display for an audience both for your club mates, so that they can learn, and your peers, so that you might be assessed.

Archers often shoot in groups of three shot in a set order: the second-most experienced leading off, the least experienced in the middle and the most experienced shooting last.

This is similar to how World Archery competition teams plan their shooting order, and the reasons are essentially the same: to inspire confidence in the team, inspire the least experienced to shoot well and to anchor the team with a final strong performance. A wave of confidence will ripple across the three archers.

Most kyudo equipment is sourced directly from Japan. The most distinctive item is the asymmetric yumi bow, usually taller than the archer, and the best of which are made of bamboo.

Like most East Asian arrows, kyudo ya are traditionally made from bamboo, although many now train with carbon arrows (indeed, many kyudo clubs now use Easton shafts) with bird feather fletchings.

Uniquely, kyudo arrows are prepared and shot in pairs; the haya and otoya using feathers from different sides of the bird: the haya is supposed to spin clockwise, and the otoya anticlockwise. This is supposed to stop the arrows landing in exactly the same position on the target.

Apart from the mandatory clothes and the bow, the most distinctive feature of kyudo is the glove, known as the yugake, which the archer uses to give the string a distinct twist when drawing. A top-level, handmade yugake can cost more than 1200 USD.

Of all the Japanese martial arts, kyudo is relatively little known outside of Japancertainly compared to combat forms like judo and karate. It gradually expanded after the second world war to a few other countries around the world. Not all countries have a national federationand someinternational clubs receive instruction and tuition directly from Japan.

Success in kyudo is found down two paths: tournaments, which emphasise scores, and grade examinations, which test technique and proper form.

Grading might happen once or twice a year, and there is a programme of competitions and events around the world.

Depending on your level, hitting the target may not be an essential component of moving up a grade, in a discipline where form is more important.You could say that the hit is part of it, but perhaps not all of it.

There is a performative aspect to kyudo; while good arrow flight and speed is essential, part of achieving mastery of the sport is a subtle level of personal expression. Kyudo, as taught in high schools across Japan, tends to emphasise the sporting side.At the higher levels, and in top international clubs,it emphasises the mastery of the form.

Many cursory studies of kyudo focus on the spiritual aspect of the sport, with that element being more important than hitting the target. This is partly since the publication of the 1948 book Zen In The Art Of Archery,by the German academic Eugene Herrigal, who studied in Japan with a kyudo master.

(Herrigals book is by far the best-selling book of all time with the word archery in the title, although it is really a classic interpretation ofZen Buddhism, using kyudo as a vehicle.)

Japanese archery is ultimately syncretic and pulls from multiple philosophical and religious traditions: the association with the sacred peculiar to Shinto, the traditions of Chinese civil archery and the moral self-improvement of Confucianism, the cosmology of Daoism, the spiritual development of Buddhism and the mental practice to achieve concrete results on the target from Zen.

(Confucius, the philosopher whose influence still dominates East Asian culture described the bow as a vessel of virtue.)

However, because of Herrigals book,which only became influential in Japan once it was published there,many peopleassociate kyudo solely with the practice of Zen.

This aspect is not usually taught directly. Kyudo is first and foremost about archery. Although,you may be lucky enough to find enlightenment along the way.

The dizzying levels of commitment to approach mastery, perhaps even more than other Japanese martial arts, mean that kyudo is a lifetime study for most. Once you are hooked, it may be part of you forever.

Link:

Kyudo, the way of the bow and the pursuit of Zen in archery - World Archery Official Website

Laura Tucker hesitated about the head shaving.

A follower of James Arthur Ray the self-help guru who soared to new heights after appearing in the juggernaut film The Secret and on Oprah Tucker believed in his teachings. She also spent a year on what Ray called his dream team: people sporting bright blue shirts who would cheerlead at his free workshops that then tried to sell DVDs, books and expensive experiences to attendees during breaks.

Spiritual Warrior had just started and the gathered participants were told it was time to shave their heads. The weekend retreat in October 2009 near Sedona, Arizona was, for many, the pinnacle of Rays events. Ray promised to help people find the happiness, money and love they sought if they adhered to his mantras, such as play full on.

Tucker relented, the clippers buzzed and her long blonde hair fell to the floor. There was a fair amount of pressure, she later testified at Rays trial.

For that weekend would end in tragedy. Three people James Shore, Kirby Brown and Liz Neuman died after spending around two hours in a superheated so-called sweat lodge where the temperature spiked to about 120 degrees and steam sizzled off rocks.

I could feel it going in my nose and down my throat actually physically burning the inside of my body as it was going in, Brandy Amstel said of the steam in a new Wondery podcast called Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment, which examines what happened in Sedona, its aftermath, Rays trial and what he has been doing since prison.

The sounds that were going on in the tent were so intense. People screaming blood-curling screams. There was wow.

Investigative journalist Matt Stroud first reported on what happened in Sedona in 2013 for a feature published at the tail end of that year. Stroud, the host of Guru, told DailyMail.com that when he talks about the story, he is always asked: Why did these people stay in the lodge?

They had invested thousands of dollar to be there, he said.

Amstel had spent over $50,000 and Kirby Brown had used her lifes savings to cover the retreats $10,000 cost.

But beyond the monetary, Stroud pointed out that before people had entered the rounded structure on the morning of October 8, 2009, Ray had made it seem that the symptoms they experienced from heat exhaustion was part of the process they had to push through to achieve their goals.

Youre most likely will feel like your skin is going to fell off of your body. It is hellacious hot, Ray said in a recording played on the podcast. Im the master of the lodge and so when I tell you to do something, thats when you do it. You dont say anything unless youre asked to say anything.

An earlier exercise that weekend also silenced attendees. Wearing a white flowing robe, according to the podcast, Ray walked to the center of the room, raised a megaphone to his mouth and said: I am God.

He divided the participants into two groups for a version of the Samurai Game. Stroud explained that it is typically a team-building exercise at corporate retreats where people are asked to do tasks such as balancing an egg on a spoon. Rays version was different: no one could talk because he was God, and if they did, they were dead and had to lie on the floor.

This went on for almost five hours. It ended with Ray instructing those still in the game to pull out imaginary swords and mime slicing their own throats. Next, participants were led to different locations in the desert to spend the night without food or water.

It was after these experiences that Ray laid out what they should expect for his heat endurance challenge. Ray said they will be in an altered state and they should try to keep it together as much as possible. Nor was leaving encouraged when it got tough.

You just have to let go and say, if Im going to die, its ok because I dont ever die not really, Ray said. My body dies. I dont die.

In the lodge, Brandy Amstel had positioned herself near Ray, who was close to the structures opening. During the rounds of escalating heat, some people left, and at one point, Amstel did as well. Ray, she said, was trying to get her to stay, but she was crying and panicking. Once out, staff dosed her with cold water.

It felt surreal like I was watching from up above some stuff happening, she recalled on the podcast. There was steam coming off of my body as they poured the water on it. That is not right.

Laura Tucker entered the lodge with her friend Liz Neuman and they sat together. It was this pie and every person had their slice, Tucker said of how the 56 people sat in two concentric circles in the lodge around the pit. She added that the rolling heat was oppressive.

When a man started screaming that he was having a heart attack, Ray told him to pull it together, Stroud said. When the man said he felt as if he was going to die, James responded, its a good day to die, according to the podcast.

After eight rounds of about 15 minutes each, after more than two hours, James finally ended the ceremony, Stroud said. Because Ray had been near the door, he emerged unscathed a little sweaty.

The scene after the lodge was one of disarray and disorder. Amstel recalled others that had staggered out or were carried out were throwing up, freaking out and flailing. Two people were still inside the structure and 911 was called. The helicopter arrived first about 30 minutes later and then the ambulance. Liz Neuman was taken to the nearest hospital and was in intensive care for a week before she died.

James Shore and Kirby Brown were dead. Nineteen people had become ill.

After Detective Ross Diskin arrived at the scene, he said: I didnt understand or know what had happened. I didnt know if this was some kind of a cult or mass suicide or what. I could see women walking around with shaved heads. They were walking around almost like zombies like they were in shock.

Diskin recalled that he would have loved to talk to Ray then, but he was gone. Stroud said that after the lodge, Ray walked to his rental car, climbed in and drove away.

Initially, the detective did not think that a crime had occurred because, he said, it appeared that people stayed inside the sweat lodge voluntarily until they cooked to death. That changed during the investigation.

We realized that it really wasnt their decision to stay in. They had been conditioned to do what James Ray said, Diskin said on the podcast. He basically lined out the symptoms of heat stroke to them and presented that as if that were the desired effect.

Four months later, Ray was charged three counts of manslaughter.

This was not a freak accident. These actions on his part created the conditions that made death in that event inevitable. And when people where in distress, he did not help them, Ginny Brown, Kirbys mother, said on the podcast.

After a long trial, the jury found him guilty of negligent homicide and he was sentenced to 20 months in prison in November 2011. Ray served 18 months and was released on July 12, 2013.

Stroud, the podcast host, said that 2013 was around when he became interested in writing a long-form story about what had happened in Sedona and its aftermath. I had been tracking his career and the question was what is James Ray going to do after prison.

Ray continues to have events although the crowds are around 30 to 40 people, Stroud said. At his height, Ray said during a deposition that he was pulling in about $10 million in revenue. He also once owned properties in Hawaii, Nevada and a plush mansion in Beverly Hills, according to the podcast.

Ray struggled for years to build his business until The Secret, which then led to an appearance on Oprah. The episode aired on New Years Day 2006, and Oprahs audience responded so enthusiastically that he was invited on the show again.

Stroud pointed out that Ray is only featured in The Secret for about three minutes, but being on Oprah got many interested in him and his teachings. Stroud has asked Ray several times for an interview but he has never granted one on-the-record. Through her representatives, Oprah declined interview and comment requests.

Stroud said he has seenno substantive statement from Oprah about what happened in Sedona, he said.To me and the folks who were there, it is pretty egregious, he told DailyMail.com.

For the podcast, it was difficult to get people to talk about what had happened in Sedona for a number of reasons. Stroud said he tried to contact the 56 people who were in that lodge, but for some, it was too painful to revisit and others wereembarrassed by happened. Acult-like stigma has been attached to the event.

Stroud outlined the different people who went to Rays events. Some went for work, some went to Rays and others workshops, such as Tony Robbins, and there were those who went only to his seminars and retreats.

There is a lot of conversations whether James Ray was overseeing a cult. I dont think that he was, Stroud said. But it is something that is open to discussion.

Ginny Brown told DailyMail.com that her daughter Kirby was an independent thinker who was not suggestible. Kirby had invested her life savings of $10,000 for the Spiritual Warrior retreat and Brown said because of that her daughter had wanted to get the most of the experience.

As soon as this happened, we realized we needed to go public. This never should have happened, she said of her daughters death. We felt compelled to speak. This was just not right.

She decided to participate in the podcast so people can see how you can be pulled into something and get trapped. Determined that something positive should come out of what happened, the Brown family launched the SEEK Safely, which looks to educate and empower consumers searching for self-help teachers as well as to promote professional standards in an industry that is unregulated with an estimated worth of $11 billion a year, according to the nonprofits site.

But Ginny Brown also wants people to know her daughter. On the podcast, Kirby is described as vibrant, alive, willing to try anything and relatives called her their action figure cousin. Each year, family and friends have a celebration of her life called Kirby Jam.

She said: We honor Kirby by having adventures, by loving life, by really living and laughing and enjoying each other and gathering with others. I know that is what she would want.

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James Arthur Ray's self-help retreat where three died discussed - Brinkwire

Condolences from celebrities and many others poured in for John Travolta and his two children, following news that Kelly Preston, his wife of 28 years, had died of breast cancer at age 57.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Prestons co-star on the 1988 film Twins, tweeted that she was extraordinary, with talent off the charts. The former California governor also said she had a big heart and was such a wonderful wife and mother.

My heart breaks for John and the kids, Shania Twain tweeted, while Russell Crowe called Preston a sparkly-eyed gem. Piers Morgan praised her and Travolta for having one of the most enduring Hollywood marriages. Morgan also said he was gutted for Travolta.

The overriding message of the RIP tweets conforms to the view that Preston was the beautiful, vivacious and steely anchor at the heart of a celebrity marriage that, yes, by Hollywood standards, was pretty remarkable.

What made the marriage even more remarkable is that it endured pretty daunting challenges: The 2009 death of their 16-year-old son, Jett, from a seizure; ongoing questions about the couples devotion to the Church of Scientology; and the gay rumors and accusations over the years that Travolta sexually harassed or assaulted men working for him.

If all those challenges were not enough, the couple had to weather the very bad movies Travolta made or that they made together, including the box-office bomb Battlefield Earth in 2000 and Gotti, the 2018 John Gotti biopic that was critically panned.

Travolta announced his wifes death via Instagram late Sunday night, saying, It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.

Travolta also thanked Prestons nurses and doctors at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for her care.

Travolta and Preston met while filming 1988s The Experts. They married in Paris in 1991 and became parents to Jett in 1992, a daughter, Ella Bleu, in 2000 and a son, Benjamin, in 2010. Preston had a lengthy career in movies and TV, including 1980s teen comedies, Jerry Maguire in 1996, and For the Love of the Game in 1999. But she also took some time off from acting over the years to focus on raising her children.

In public, Preston and Travolta always managed to appear affable and seemingly carefree, Daily Beast writer Dana Kennedy said in a 2018 profile of the couple.

Kennedy followed the couples visit to the Cannes Film Festival, where they were promoting Gotti, in which Travolta played the notorious crime family boss and Preston played his long-suffering wife, Victoria.

Some say that much of the couples ability to project the image of a long and happy marriage was due to the inner strength of the outwardly easy-going Preston, Kennedy reported. For one thing, Preston was hard-core in her dedication to Scientology, which helped to anchor Travolta. For that reason, Travolta relied on Prestons stability and was terrified of losing her, former Scientologists said.

Kelly is a much more dedicated Scientologist than John, Mike Rinder, the former top spokesman for the Church of Scientology, told the Daily Beast.

Karen de la Carriere, another former high-ranking Scientology executive, told the Daily Beast that Travolta was a bad boy in his personal behavior, while Preston either didnt hear or chose to ignore his alleged indiscretions. De la Carriere also saidScientology doctrine trains its members to ignore or to discount unpleasant news about themselves or the organization.

Kelly is a true believer, added de la Carrieres husband, Jeffrey Augustine. He also said that Travolta may have a dark side but that the actor loved his family. Because of Preston, hed never leave Scientology, Augustine said.

In 2012 interview for the Lifetime talk show The Conversation, Preston talked openly about how the Scientology process of auditing had helped her, the Business Insider reported.

In Scientology, we have whats called auditing, and that helps you to address things in your life and to strip them away, Preston said. Its a path of spiritual enlightenment. Also, it helps rid the mind of painful experience completely.

Preston credited the people at her church with helping her get through difficult times, while also revealing that she had become focused on staying sober so that she would be a better mother.

Our kids are the center of our universe, Preston said.

At Cannes, Travolta credited Scientology for filling him with the enduring confidence to mount personal challenges and career comebacks, reports said.

I practice Scientology, and we do very simple things to get ourselves in better shape: take care of yourself, get good sleep, be better parents, be productive, be motivated, Travolta told the audience. It sounds simple, but they all contribute to your well-being.

Their daughter, Ella Bleu, has followed her parents into Scientology and has become an up-and-comer in the church, according to The Underground Bunker, a blog run by journalist Tony Ortega, that covers Scientology.

With the loss of Preston, Travolta may be in the place that reportedly terrified him facing life without her. In his Instagram post, the actor wrote: Kellys love and life will always be remembered.

He also said he would take some time to be with his children, who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you dont hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal.

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How Kelly Preston anchored John Travolta through tragedy, controversy and bad movies - The Mercury News

From environment to family, transportation to health care, from work and leisure to what well eat and how well age, USC Dornsife faculty share how they think our future world will look. [11 min read]

As the 19th century drew to a close and a new era dawned, an American civil engineer named John Elfreth Watkins consulted experts at the nations greatest institutions of science and learning for their opinions on 29 wide-ranging topics. Watkins, who was also a contributor to the Saturday Evening Post, then wrote an extraordinary magazine article based on what these university professors told him.

Published on Page 8 of the December 1900 issue of Ladies Home Journal a sister publication of the Post it was titled What May Happen in the Next Hundred Years. Watkins opened the article with the words, These prophecies will seem strange, almost impossible. In fact, many of his far-sighted predictions for the year 2000 which included the invention of digital color photography, television and mobile phones proved remarkably accurate.

For this issue of USC Dornsife Magazine, we have repeated the experiment by inviting 10 scholars drawn from USC Dornsife faculty and representing diverse disciplines to predict what the world will look like in the year 2050 and the year 2100.

A Bluer Planet

Astronauts circling the globe in 80 years may find our blue planet looking quite a bit bluer, says Naomi Levine, assistant professor of biological sciences and Earth sciences.

The middle of the Pacific or Atlantic oceans are what we call the deserts of the ocean. Theyre really low in nutrients, and things that live there are usually small. As a result, these areas look very blue because there isnt much ther except water, Levine explains. As the climate warms, we predict that these desert areas are going to expand. So, ocean waters will look bluer from space.

A Brighter Shade of Green

Our planet may also look a bit greener. Travis Williams, professor of chemistry, says that without an active plan for removing the carbon clogging our atmosphere, nature could step in.

If we dont choose a biomass thats going to utilize higher temperatures and that atmospheric carbon, nature is going to choose on our behalf, and I dont think were going to like it, he says. To avoid harmful organism explosions like algae blooms, Williams foresees a human-led reforestation of the planet, at a scale several times the size of the Amazon rainforest.

What's On the Menu?

A greening planet could also be due to changes in our agricultural systems. A move away from monoculture farming and a return to an ancient polyculture approach might be on the horizon, says Sarah Portnoy, associate professor (teaching) of Spanish. Portnoy researches indigenous food cultures of Mesoamerica and suggests that in the future we could adopt the milpa food system. Animals would be grazing on the same land where there are cover crops and squash, corn, beans and all kinds of herbs growing together, she says.

This isnt just a utopian pipe dream. Governments will have to seriously rethink agriculture if they want to reduce rising rates of chronic disease such as obesity, especially among the poor. The agriculture that is supported by the government now is skewed toward crops like soybeans and wheat. Our food system is geared to the cheapest calories, Portnoy says.

The high-calorie, processed foods produced from these monoculture, subsidized crops are less expensive than fruits and vegetables, but do little for our health. Unless we reprioritize which crops get government cash, we can expect disparities in health between economic classes to continue. By 2050, only the privileged might be able to afford strawberries or carrots.

Food supplies will alter in other ways as well, thanks to climate change. The bluer oceans will be less friendly to bigger marine organisms, which means fewer large fish to harvest.

When you change ocean temperatures, it changes what types of organisms can grow, and that cascades up the food web, says Levine. Sushi chefs in 2050 might dish up more avocados and scallops than tuna rolls. This could work for future diners, Portnoy thinks. Theres a move toward being a lot more intrepid as an eater, and toward plant-based diets, she says.

One Big, Happy Family

Starting off your day in 2050 could mean wheeling your toddler to the state-funded neighborhood day care center. Birth rates are currently plummeting across the industrialized world and governments may soon need to tackle the problem as a public health priority, says Darby Saxbe, associate professor of psychology and director of the USC Center for the Changing Family.

Well realize that, when the birth rate goes down, that affects our future workforce, she says. When were not able to replace our population, it ultimately becomes a national security issue. Child care benefits, family leave and subsidized, part-time work schedules for parents could be the governments strategy to encourage a new baby boom.

We may be well into the digital age, but you might not find too many iPads in the nurseries of the future. Increased awareness of the pitfalls of screen time could change our approach to parenting via device. The original scions of social media themselves now admit to limiting their own childrens time online, observes Saxbe. In fact, in some of the more expensive private schools in Los Angeles, you have to sign a no screen time pledge.

The keywords there might be expensive and private. A movement away from childhood spent online could leave behind children from poorer families as technology becomes cheaper and the cost of human labor rises. It will likely soon be less expensive to instruct classrooms of kids via lessons on tablets than by engaging a human teacher.

You might end up with a two-class system, Saxbe warns. You have more kids having a digital childhood thats a little less regulated, especially in neighborhoods where its not safe to play outside. Wealthier families are going to be able to afford more hands-on child care and more hands-on educational activities, instead of leaving kids alone with their technology.

However, technology can still benefit the family in the coming decades. In fact, Saxbe believes this is a largely untapped opportunity with great potential. Silicon Valley technologists primarily childless young men still havent tackled devices like the breast pump or baby monitor, which could both use a redesign.

Has there been a real focus on innovation and investment when it comes to things that serve parents and families yet? asks Saxbe. I think theres a big market there.

Working 10-4

After dropping your child off at day care, you head to work. You likely wont be putting the keys in the ignition of your own car, though. Kyla Thomas, sociologist at the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research and director of LABarometer, a quarterly internet-based survey of approximately 1,800 L.A. county residents, says that by 2030 commuters will probably rely more on public transit and shared, autonomous vehicles to get around.

Public transportation will be faster and more convenient, and increased density in neighborhoods will mitigate sprawl. Parking will be more expensive and harder to find. By 2100, Thomas says, private car ownership will be a thing of the past.

Hopping out of your driverless commuter van, you clock in at the office for your six-hour work day. Patricia Grabarek, lecturer with USC Dornsifes Online Master of Science in Applied Psychology program, believes that the traditional 40-hour work week could get phased out by 2050.

We are in the midst of a job revolution thats on the scale of the Industrial Revolution, Grabarek says. The entire nature of work will change.

Automation promises to replace many jobs, and streamline others. Combine this with the growing emphasis on work-life balance, embodied by current millennials pushing for workplace flexibility, and we could see our work week lighten in load.

Our leaders are recognizing the problem that employees are burning out. People are working too much and they are not as productive as they could be. Bosses will start modeling better behaviors for their employees, Grabarek says. After-hours emails could soon be banned, as is already the case in France and Germany.

This doesnt mean well all be aimlessly underemployed, however. There is a fear that automation will eliminate jobs but, in the past, weve always replaced the jobs that weve lost. Innovators will come out and replace them with new jobs we cant even come up with now, she says.

No matter how advanced computers become, human curiosity remains superior. Automation will be good at analyzing data, Grabarek says, but the questions will still originate with human researchers.

It's Quitting Time

Finished with work for the week, youre off to start the weekend. One item not likely to be on the agenda? Attending a traditional religious service.

In the United States, theres a trend away from institutionalized religion and toward highly individualized spirituality, says Richard Flory, associate professor (research) of sociology and senior director of research and evaluation at the USC Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture. People just arent interested in institutions anymore, and nothing seems to be stepping forward to replace that interface between the individual and society.

Churches and temples could find new life as condos, bars or community centers, with religion relegated to a decorative background.

Rather than kneeling in prayer, people might find themselves downing a psychedelic drug to reach personal spiritual enlightenment. Movements that center around hallucinogens such as ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea from the Amazon, have gained traction in recent years, Flory notes.

Of course, there might just be an app for it all. Consciousness hacking aims to use science to bypass years of devotion to a spiritual practice and give everyone the hard-won benefits of such a practice instantly. In the future, I could see having some sort of implanted device to get to this level of consciousness, Flory says.

Reading the Tea Leaves

You may also use your leisure time to crack open a good book one with a slightly different texture. As climate change threatens our traditional resources, more sustainable alternatives such as seaweed could step in as a paper substitute, predicts Mark Marino, professor (teaching) of writing and a scholar of digital literature.

By 2100, literature could be written across the heavens instead.

Roboticist poets will create autonomous micro-texts that will be able to swarm into collectives, self-organize, aggregate and adapt, says Marino. Bevies of these nano-rhy-bots will create superstructures that can write epics on the Great Wall of China, on the surface of Mars or in the bloodstream of their readers.

Better Living Through Quantum Computing

Aging in the New Age may mean more nontraditional family units. Older adults prefer to age and die at home, but what happens when you dont have a big family network to support that? It may mean people might be more invested in friend networks, or the idea of chosen family, says Saxbe. Cue The Golden Girls theme song.

Sean Curran, associate professor of gerontology and biological sciences, believes that a focus on increasing our health span, the period of life during which one is free from serious disease, rather than simply elongating our life spans, will improve the quality of our longer lives as we age.

The goal is to have a personalized approach to aging that takes into account an individuals genetics, environment and life history, explains Curran. The assisted living facility of the future will be patient-centered, with each resident having a personalized prescription to maintain optimal health.

Eli Levenson-Falk, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, predicts that quantum computing could unlock the development of those drugs.

Quantum computers solve problems much more swiftly and with higher information density than todays computers. Although the technology is still in its infancy, Levenson-Falk predicts that by 2050, practical quantum technologies will be used commercially by major drug companies for research and development.

Enormously complicated computational tasks like simulating a chemicals molecular structure are much more achievable through this technology.

The idea is that with a quantum computer you can sort of emulate nature, he explains. We might have the canonical example for this by 2050: the physical shape of a protein molecule.

Predicting this shape is nearly impossible with a classical computer, Levenson-Falk says.

Measuring it is difficult and requires you to predict the shape first. With a good quantum simulator, we can emulate the protein and just let quantum mechanics do the processing for us, then measure the result at the end.

The Quantum Age

Indeed, quantum computing might solve questions that relate to the very fabric of the universe. Or at least get us closer to the answers.

Dark energy, dark matter, quantum gravity and thequantum classical transition are the principle problems existing in physics today. Quantum technologies are the best bet to solve the last one, says Levenson-Falk. Quantum sensors will probably also be used to help detect dark matter, or at least falsify some theories. And there are some proposals for using quantum technologies to poke at quantum gravity.

We cannot, of course, predict our shared future with 100 percent accuracy, but one thing we can be sure of is that it will be filled with new challenges and opportunities to create a better tomorrow. Although advances in technology will certainly help determine our future, how equitably those advances are shared in our interconnected world will also play a dominant role in shaping it.

This is a tale of two societies: You could either see things get better and more supportive for families, or you might see two-class stratification, Saxbe warns.

As the future unspools, we are given both the invaluable gift and the tremendous responsibility of deciding how we want it to look. Whether our world in 2100 takes on the dystopian qualities of Blade Runner or embodies the utopian, egalitarian ideals of Star Trek remains in the terrestrial hands of those already building that future.

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A Brighter Tomorrow > News > USC Dornsife - USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

When the individual has no belief in his own act and no ultimate concern with the beliefs of his audience, we may call him cynical . . . the cynic, with all his professional disinvolvement, may obtain unprofessional pleasures from his masquerade, experiencing a kind of gleeful spiritual aggression from the fact that he can toy at will with something his audience must take seriously.

~ Erving Goffman, The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life

IT'S WINTER 2010 and Jim Carrey has once again walked through the door, Truman style. Walking through the doorthe metaphor taken from Carreys role as the Truman Shows titular movie star (Carrey, the movie star within the movie), which became a prophetic part both for Hollywood culture and for Carrey himselfwalking through the doorhappens every so often. It has become the life-imitating-art way for Carrey to express escape. From fame. From expectation. From having to play himself. Like most pathways to enlightenment, the threshold crossing can be painful; walking through the door at times means sweet euphoria and, at times, supreme hell.

So Jim Carrey is through the door once again, and, now on the other side, dragging large paint cans down the cold streets of the West Village. Hes set up an art studio here. He spends all day painting and parts of the early morning dispatching drunks and most hours heartbroken. Hes battled depression his whole life, was on Prozac for a time, and had since switched to a regimen of part cognitive behavioral therapy and part holistic medicationhydroxytryptophan and tyrosine, just enough to bump his dopamineand now part painting, which is doing wonders for Carrey, because creativity is medicine.

Word has gone around town that Carrey is painting. Word is: Carreys looking for a writer to help pen an essay about his paintingswhat they all mean, this hellacious euphoria put to canvas.

Across town in Park Slope, writer Dana Vachon decides to take full advantage of the offer and go say hi. He has absolutely no interest in authoring Jim Carreys art manifesto; he just wants to meet the comedian. They swap numbers.

Not long after, Carrey texts: Hey man, what are you doing?

Vachon is back at his apartment, stealing Wi-Fi from his neighbor and fully expecting never to talk to Carrey ever again. (Carrey, now, years later: He had no idea how badly I needed a friend.)

Vachon: I dunno, what are you doing?

Carrey: Watching Netflix.

Vachon: What are you watching?

Carrey: John Barrymore in Jekyll and Hyde.

And then, all of a sudden, the two are on a phone call, both watching the 1920 horror flick together, riffing.

Linda Fields Hill

And then Jim Carrey, step by step, begins breaking down the facial performance of John Barrymore: Now watch here. Barrymore knows he needs to do these things with his face. So theres an economy that hes . . .

And then, for whatever reasonmaybe its their shared late-night, cable-surfing insomnia, or how theyd both known extreme highs and lows in life, or how theyd both been at one point disgusted by the faade of their industries (Vachon began as a Wall Street analyst)this kind of conversation continues. For years.

And then one day, something comes to Vachon, an opening to a story, Jim Carrey's story. The two had been discussing writing Carreys biography together. But neither of them had wanted to write some boring memoir, because do you ever really know someone after reading their memoir? (And can you ever really know anyone anyway?) Carrey didnt think so. Carrey wanted to create.

Vachon calls Carrey now.

Memoirs and Misinformation: A Novel

Vachon: Hey, Ive got this scene. Theres this guy. His names Jim Carrey. And hes in his house. And he spends like, a lot of time there. And you wouldnt expect it, but hes just mainlining content.

Theres a long pause. Vachon is terrified. Carrey is about to tell him its a horrible idea, he thinks.

Carrey, finally: And you know what else? Sometimes Jim Carrey makes himself up before he goes to bed, because hes afraid of selfies that will be taken at the morgue, if he dies in his sleep.

And thats itthe book is born. It begins with that scene and then it explodes: deepfake Jim Carrey pornography, Chinese conspiracies, backyard epiphanies, aliens. Carrey and Vachon cant stop themselves.

Is it true? Did these things really happen to a man named Jim Carrey? It doesnt matter. They feel true. They feel truer than any celebrity memoir. For Jim Carrey, it feels like the truest version of himself hes ever created.

Do you know Jim Carrey? The real Jim Carrey? Jim. Jimmy. Jimbo. The Jimster.

Youve certainly seen the Jims.

Youve seen the fun, farting Jim Carrey, the goofball. The physical comedian. The 1994 Jim Carrey, star of that breakout year when Ace Ventura and The Mask and Dumb and Dumber all pushed his salary to $10 million per film (and then not long after, $20 million), when he was getting compared to Buster Keaton and Jerry Lewis and the head of Columbia Pictures said he may be the biggest star in the world. Well, for a time, maybe until the mid 2000s, Carrey probably was the biggest star in the world.

And then there was a gapmaybe ten yearsin which you probably forgot Jim Carrey existed.

And then he resurfaced, and you probably read about the new Jim Carreys, the bizarre, the provocative, the wait-is-that-really-Jim-Carrey Jim Carreys. Maybe you read about how he became a painter and a political cartoonist. How he began painting multi-ethnic Jesus (Christ consciousness) and then Trump. Or how he nearly lost his mind filming Man on the Moon, and, how, a few years ago, after that documentary about how he nearly lost his mind filming Man on the Moon, he grew out a beard and began going on talk shows and saying things like: I used to be a guy who was experiencing the world, and now I feel like the world and the universe experiencing a guy. Or, during that uncomfortable fashion show interview: I didnt get dressed up. There is no me.

You probably thought Jim Carrey just went crazy.

But the truth is stranger and more wonderful still.

Jim Carrey

For eight years, they talk. Talking and writing is medicine, salvation. And Jim Carrey tells Dana Vachon about everything. Everything it has ever meant to be Jim Carrey. All the Jim Carreys. The child Jim Carrey making faces in his bedroom mirror. The teenage Jim Carrey, the high school dropout, driving with his dad hundreds of miles through the snow to perform standup. The Jim Carrey making his big break, opening for the legend, Rodney Dangerfield, booking The Tonight Show, getting his first TV role. The 1994 Jim Carrey. And then the Jim Carrey that remained when the mega star Jim Carrey began to fade.

And with all these Jim Carreys assembled, the two friends begin crafting the next Jim Carrey, the Jim Carrey to contain all Jim Carreys. A Jim Carrey different from the Jim Carreys of past writers and journalists, those people who believe after an hour or so with a subject, they can somehow capture that person, read his inner most self in everything he does: in the way he responds to a fan, or drinks a Diet Coke, or swings a golf club. No, you just get more Jim Carreys. The Rolling Stone Jim Carrey or the Esquire Jim Carrey or the TMZ Jim Carrey. And can you actually call those real?

No. But while helping write this new Jim Carrey, the Jim Carrey who battles aliens with Gwyneth Paltrow and isnt real, something really weird starts to happen: Dana Vachon begins to see the Jim Carrey everybody else kinda missed.

One day, while the two are writing an absurdist scene fixated on Carreys fathers bowtie, Carrey leaves the room and Vachon, still writing, looks up to see Carrey standing there holding the actual bow tie, like a relic. On another occasion, working on a hallucinogenic dialogue with his fatherhis father being ground to death in a Play-Doh Fun Factory beltCarrey writes the line, I started dreaming for you, and Vachon thinks, hell, here in the craziest, most unreal scene was the truth of a father son relationship: I started dreaming for you.

Aaron RapoportGetty Images

Carreys father died in that breakout year, 1994. He never saw Carrey become a mega star. If theres one thread that ties together all the Jim Carreys, it is he, Percy Carrey, Jims father. How his father reminded him of a real-life cartoon. How his father had given up musician dreams, artist dreams, to raise a family and see his son through the snow to his comedy gigs, his sons art. I started dreaming for you.

A truth. Did Vachon stumble upon ... a truth? And does Danna Vachon know Jim Carrey now? The ur-Jim-Carrey, the true Jim Carrey?

Well, if you ask Jim Carrey who Jim Carrey really is, he will probably tell you that Jim Carrey is, in fact, no one. Jim Carrey doesnt exist. And doesnt that make a purposefully fictional Jim Carry who doesnt exist just about the most real Jim Carrey of them all?

If Jim Carrey didnt go crazy, then what the heck actually happened?

The answer is that sometime around 2000, Jim Carrey began to see. He began to see the charade of personathe Latin origins meaning something like: a theatrical mask. Like Carrey's own film, The Mask: its something you wear, something that alters you and also becomes you, but falsely.

And the true story of Carreys not-crazy path to enlightenment begins in Toronto. Carrey started, in his teenage years, as an impressionist. He did Elvis and Henry Fonda and Ghandi and dozens more. Then one day, he wanted to be original. So he dropped the impressions and took the stage each night simply as Jim Carreywith nothing prepared. He would just improvise on the spot. Some nights he got killedyelling, bottles thrown. Some nights he did the killingand the throwing. He was becoming someone new each time, some new Jim Carrey.

But who did Jim Carrey want to be? Who could he be? He was still so young.

So young that when Rodney Dangerfield first spoke to Carrey in his dressing room, he just looked down at the young comedian and, without saying a word, began howling uncontrollably with laughter.

He turned to his friend, Joe Ancis, and said: Who the FUCK is this guy, man?? Look at him!

Then to Carrey: Have you ever been in LOVE??

He had not. But what Carrey could be was the audiences release valve. He could be unbridled joy. He could be a man Free from Concern, so that his audience would be free from concern. That would be his persona, his main mask, he decided.

Erving Goffman, the Canadian sociologist, wrote of social behavior as mask wearing. When we dine with friends, when we meet strangers, when we interview for jobs, we, like thespians, are wearing faces. We do this unconsciouslyand mostly to blend in. But there is one person among us who wears his mask differently, consciously, intentionally. Goffman called this wearer cynical. A cynical individual may delude his audience for what he considers to be their own good, or for the good of the community. Elsewhere, Goffman refers to one cynical act as a pious frauda kind of innocent deceit.

Archive PhotosGetty Images

For years, the Man Free from Concern was Carreys fraud. He laughed and farted and climbed up walls and lived knowingly, willingly, inside Hollywoods Truman Showall to make his audience roar. But a time came when Jim Carrey no longer wanted to be that man, when the jesters face became too heavy and he took that mask off.

Thats what his novel with Dana Vachon comes to be about. Its about dismantling Persona. Its about the persona of Jim Carrey, someone who tried so hard for so long to be one thing, but realized, later, he was no longer doing it for an audience, but for himself. His mask, his Ego, demanded relevance and so he was performing for it, for himself. He was committing self-fraud.

So he threw the mask of Jim Carrey away, and he began a new, better, more cynical act: a war on Jim Carrey, a fraud to reveal fraudulence.

You see, for the last two decades, Jim Carrey has been on a singular quest to reveal and then vanquish Ego. To tear off its face, to stretch it and show that face as a false idol. And then to paint on it several contradictory faces that are somehow all true and falseand then to wear it.

What happened when Jim Carrey set forth on this quest? Well, the world couldnt see what Jim Carrey was doing. What he was doing with those weird red-carpet interviews and bizarre late-night ramblings: he was showing the audience their own masks. They didnt understand.

And what happened after he did these things? The world simply had enough of Jim Carrey. They started writing things like Why wont Jim Carrey just shut up? and Hollywood wont cast Jim Carrey anymore. He had all these colors to paint with nowhumor and heartbreak and self-awareness. (Thats what Dangerfield meant when he laughed: there was a world of emotions left to be had and with them you construct art and with art you get to be free and not burdened by Self. With art you get to teach others about the burden of Self.)

Yes, he had all these colors now, and he walked through that door on a quest to vanquish self, and he dragged paint cans down the streets of the West Village, and all the while we thought he was just losing his mind, losing his relevance. But it was the opposite. OH BOY! was Jim Carrey on to something this time.

Jim Carrey is sitting in his L.A. kitchen with Dana Vachon a month before publication. Theyre doing a Zoom interview about their novel and looking like two brothers who cant seem to sit still at the dinner table. They wear the same devilish grin.

They talk about meeting each other and becoming fast friends and how they didnt mean anything by turning Gwyneth Paltrow into a militant alien killer, because Jim Carrey actually really respects Gwyneth Paltrow, and also we plugged Goop, so what do you want??

And then there comes the question, the question no one really knows the answer to anymore, because they stopped asking: who is Jim Carrey nowall these years later?

Kevin Winter/BAFTA LAGetty Images

Carrey becomes serious. Im two things, he says. Im a body and mind that has to defend itself and take care of itself and try to make a good show of itself in the world. (The original fraud.) And then Jim Carrey is the other thing, which contains the first: he is everything. There is nothing that isnt me, he says. And this everything is why he, Jim Carrey, doesnt really exist. Because how can you exist, when you are the same as all things?

And then Jim Carrey tells the story of the first time he walked through this door, Truman style. The moment when Jim Carrey didnt want to be Jim Carrey anymore and his new beautiful fraud truly began. It's a story best told last. Would you believe it if told first?

It begins one night in 1999.

In a very desperate moment in my life, I was driving up the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible in December, and it was cold and I had tears pouring down my face, trying to figure out what the hell this whole mess is all about, Carrey begins. He was brokenhearted then. No bags. Hell bent on San Francisco. Wanting to just check into a random hotel. Then I thought: What are you doing? People know you. You can't just, desperately check in with no bags and looking like a maniac.

Carrey decided to turn around. When he turned onto the on-ramp back to L.A., he thought about his recent roles as Andy Kaufman and Tony Clifton in Man on the Moon. He had disappeared behind those masks, and for the first time in a long time, he was free of Jim Carrey. He realized he was free only when he was someone else. And then Jim Carrey thought: what if I am someone else? And this feeling came over me, Carrey remembers. Every bit of concern that I had in my body drained out of me. And suddenly everything was crystal clear. The moon, it was like I could reach up and pull it out of the sky. And I started laughing hysterically. I'm driving in the cold, and I'm laughing hysterically, and Im crying at the same time with laughter, and my mind just started writing jokes, one after the anotherjokes, jokes, jokes, jokesto make myself laugh. I was free. I was totally free.

The experience lasted for three days. And then the world returnedemails and calls from agents and, just, life. But Carrey glimpsed enlightenment: wholeness. And for the rest of his career, through art, he has wanted to convey this truth. But only if we can sift through the fraud. The fraud is for our own good.

You must read beneath the words, Carrey concludes. Because [the novel] is really close to the bone. There are things here that are the source of terrible pain and the source of terrible challenge in my life. Theyre all there in one form or another. It just might not be the exact details. But if you open up to reading a little deeper, youre gonna know me.

So maybe, in the end, we can know Jim Carrey. He's just, well, a little different, and maybe he isn't even Jim Carrey anymore. That's the strange and wonderful truth. As to which parts are true truth, which parts are personas and which parts are crying in convertiblespeople will want to know.

Carrey just grins.

Thats their problem, he says.

And then, loudly, in a different voice and maybe a different Jim: ITS THEIR PROBLEM, MAAAAAAN!!

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Jim Carrey Would Like to Be Erased Forever - Men's Health

Plan a creative weekend, star signs!

Your free tarot card reading is here for you and all zodiac signs in astrology starting Friday, July 10, 2020.

The Sun is in the zodiac of Cancer. The waning gibbous Moon will be located in the sign of Pisces all day.

Today's daily number is a Life Path 3, the Communicator of numerology.

RELATED: Check Out Your Daily Horoscope For Today And Tomorrow Here

Famous Life Path 3s include Mary J Blige, Bill Cosby, and Snoop Dogg.

Life Path 3 individuals are creative, communicative, often disorganized in their focus, but it's what makes their dynamic in the workplace so inspiring, zany and eye-catching.

RELATED: Your Weekly Love Horoscope & Tarot Card Reading For July 6 - 12, 2020, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

Today, while the waning gibbous Moon is in the sign of Pisces, we are ready to try something a bit off the path.

It can feel hard to have both feet on the ground.

Our focus is on experimentation and not on accomplishing any one thing.

All zodiac signs can think broadly.

We have the potential to be visionaries and to reach for the sky.

All zodiac signs are dreamy and driven which can mean losing sight of reality, but that's when great ideas are born!

Today's a great day for doing something spiritual and creative!

The Last Quarter Moon in Aries will arrive this week, so there's plenty of time to focus on accomplishing something later. For Friday, dream!

Six of Swords

You are going through some things today that are helping you to transition into a better relationship with yourself.

It may feel as though you are almost giving birth to a new mindset, and the experience of enlightenment can feel both exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time.

Learning as you go as part of this beautiful change. Celebrate it.

RELATED: 8 Reasons Aries Women Are The Best Women To Love

Knight of Pentacles

You aren't stuck even if you feel as though you are. People often go through situations where they have to repeat circumstances over and over again before they figure out how to overcome them.

If you find yourself repeatedly experiencing the same painful reality, it's because your mind wants you to learn a new way of thinking.

Introduce something different into your lifestyle to help you see the world with different eyes.

RELATED: 5 Facts About Taurus You Should Know (But Don't), According To Astrology

Eight of Wands

You are going to be traveling soon.

This can be a physical relocation or one that is emotional.

The path can be difficult to take but necessary.

You will find this to become a very enriching and fulfilling experience.

Perhaps one of the most important you'll ever experience in your entire life.

RELATED: 8 Biggest Lies About Gemini's Two-Faced Personality Corrected!

King of Pentacles

Being ambitious is not a form of greed.

You are looking to improve yourself for good reasons.

Don't feel guilty for wanting more from your life.

Consider you breaking through the glass ceiling so that you can help others.

First, to get there you must help yourself.

RELATED: 4 Secrets To Making A Cancer Love You Forever

Nine of Pentacles

You are ready for more good things that life has to offer, and you are willing to work hard for it.

Setting your standards high is important for you today.

You will not want to settle for less than you deserve, nor should you. Your sacrifices are worth it.

RELATED: Why Are Leo Zodiac Signs So Famous

The Star

The Universe sees all that you've experienced, and it's there beside you to guide you along.

Even when you have felt all alone, your higher power knows and has been there beside you.

Trust in your faith. And don't give up hope.

RELATED: 8 Reasons Virgo Women Are The Best Women To Love

Justice

When you were treated unfairly you hoped that karma would return evil for evil.

But you have come to a place where you forgive even though you cannot forget.

Letting go of the painful past is healing for you.

Releasing it has helped you to move on and not worry about what happens to other people because your attention is back on yourself.

RELATED: 7 Ways To Love A Libra Woman & Win Her Heart, According To Astrology

The Moon

But often show you who they are, and it is hard to imagine that you misplaced your trust.

You may see something in person once that was your everything, and now you must accept them for who they are.

This can be a difficult time and yet you are ready to face the truth which is why it's manifested at this time.

RELATED: 10 Celebrity Scorpios And Why They Are So Cosmic, Per Astrology

The Hierophant

Establishing a new way of doing things may seem to be harder than you had thought.

So, now it's important for you to decide if you would like to continue to go your own independent way or join an organization whose mission mirrors your hopes and dreams for helping change the world.

RELATED: 6 Things You Probably Don't Know About The Sagittarius Woman

The Emperor

Do you need someone strong in your life to help give you support, but it can feel scary to be so needy right now.

You might be looking for a person to show you this type of courage because by observing it you can be stronger too.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why A Capricorn Zodiac Sign Is The Best Friend You'll Ever Have

The Fool

You are so ready for a major change that you might be willing to take a risk you've never considered before.

You are losing your sense of inhibition and this can be an invigorating time of growth and discovery for you.

You may see a door open as a result because the Universe is wanting to reward you for your trust in the process.

RELATED: 5 Compelling Reasons *Everyone* Should Date An Aquarius (At Least Once)

The Empress

Your heart is wide open to receive love and adventure.

You have spent a good amount of time thinking and evaluating your life and sense that life is headed in a beautiful direction.

Perhaps you are going to discover a new way of expressing your life's purpose and sharing love with others.

RELATED: The Negative Personality Traits Of The Pisces Zodiac Sign, According To Astrology

Let's make this a regular thing!

Aria Gmitter, M.S, M.F.A., is YourTango's Senior Editor of Horoscopes and Spirituality. She studies with the Midwestern School of Astrology and is a member of the South Florida Astrological Association.

Original post:

Free Tarot Reading, July 10, 2020 - YourTango

This planet is our solely residence. Environmental specialists say that over the subsequent few many years, international warming will attain such a stage that many water assets will go dry. So ecology and combatting international warming are crucial.

For instance, my nation, Tibet, is the final word supply of water in Asia. Rivers together with Pakistans Indus, Indias Ganges and Brahmaputra, Chinas Yellow River, in addition to the Mekong, move from Tibets plateau. So we must always pay extra consideration to the preservation of Tibetan ecology. This isnt just for the curiosity of 6 million Tibetans however all folks on this area. Up to now, after I was flying over Afghanistan, there have been clear indicators that what was once lakes and streams had been already dry. I really feel that Tibet additionally could grow to be like that quickly. Relating to Tibets political issues, Ive already retired. However concerning Tibets ecology and really wealthy tradition, Im totally dedicated.

We human beings have these marvelous, good minds. However were additionally the most important troublemakers on the planet. Now we must always make the most of our brains with compassion, and a way of concern. This is the reason one among my commitments is promotion of deeper human values.

From delivery, we depend on others, notably our moms. From then, every particular persons existence solely will depend on a group, as a result of were a social animal. Neighborhood is the supply of our happiness, so we should care for the group. So now, in fashionable occasions, the idea of humanity is one group. East, west, north, south: everyone seems to be interdependent. The fashionable financial system has no nationwide certainaries. Due to this fact, now wed like a way of oneness of all 7 billion human beings. Up to now, many issues had been created due to an excessive amount of emphasis on our variations, resembling nationalities and religions. Now, in fashionable occasions, that pondering is old-fashioned. We must always take into consideration humanity, about the entire world.

We should hearken to scientists and specialists. Their voices and information are crucial. And spiritual folks ought to pay extra consideration to scientists reasonably than simply pray, pray, pray. Within the historic Nalanda Buddhist custom, which we Tibetans comply with, the whole lot is investigated and never accepted by religion alone. If via reasoning we discover some contradiction, even in Buddhas personal phrases, then weve got the fitting to reject them. From childhood, I used to be at all times engaged in plenty of debate. Our pondering was primarily based not in religion however reasoning.

Buddha himself was not born in a palace however beneath a tree. He attained enlightenment beneath a Bodhi tree. When he handed, it was beneath a tree. One of many guidelines throughout our monsoon retreat is that we must always not minimize down something inexperienced. So this exhibits that Buddha himself paid consideration to inexperienced points.

Hours, minutes and seconds: time by no means stands nonetheless. We are also a part of that nature. The previous is vital, however already previous. The longer term remains to be in our palms, so we should take into consideration ecology on the international stage.

This essay is tailored from his current TIME 100 Discuss

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Dalai Lama: We Should Act As One to Protect Our World - Exchange 99

The voting in Russia on the constitutional amendments to what is now being referred as the "president's constitution". concluded on July 1, 2020 after voters had been able to cast their ballot electronically or in person over an entire week. According to the official results, nearly 78% of the voters were in favor of the amendments out of a voter turnout of 67.97%[1] The official results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) drew diverse reactions. Putin's camp showed elation. It was a "triumph"and a "vote of confidence in Putin"said Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, who claimed that the vote had proceeded without scandals and with minimal violations.[2] This appraisal was contested by Putin's opponents who claimed that the results had been achieved by fraud. Opposition activist Alexei Navalny tweeted: "It is incredibly enraging how the CEC and [its chairman Ella] Pamfilova are deliberately trying to show that don't give a damn about the law. They orchestrated a fake voting, and publicly announce its results, although at that moment in the parts of Russia where 85% of the population resides the voting precincts were still working. They should face a court trial."[3] A third opinion believed that the official results were valid, but that the respectable showing by the opposition ushered in a new and perhaps more positive era in Russian politics

Below is a sampling of reactions to the elections.:

Ballot boxes being opened (Source: Rtvi.com)

The Official Results Accurately Reflected Popular Sentiment

The popular Tolkovatel Telegram channel claimed that the authorities had astutely sprinkled social benefit amendments and the overriding issue in Russia was the social issue. The opposition had also shot itself in the foot by failing to decide whether to boycott the vote or participate and vote no. If the entire opposition had voted no, it could have secured a virtual tie in Moscow: "In general, the majority voted in favor of the new constitution... The forecasts of Sergey Belanovsky and other sociologists on the growth of the protest wave did not come true...

"Two factors have played a role in that. The first was the social support measures (increased child support and unemployment benefits... Many were pleased, especially outside big cities, where even 10 thousand rubles is real money.

This pro-amendments poster reads: Annual indexation of pensions (Source: Vedemosti.ru)

The second was the lifting of the quarantine measures. (...) The third was the "social"block of the amendments to the Constitution.

"The opposition (both systemic and non-systemic) failed to reach the voters... They did not have a single plan of action. For example, Navalny, Yabloko, [former Yekaterinaburg mayor Yevgeny] Roizman and a significant part of the 'Internet'intelligentsia called for a boycott of the voting. The Communist Party, [Maxim] Katz, Khodorkovsky and others planned to vote 'against'... As a result, both strategies have failed.[4]

Political analyst Anna Fedorova commented on the high turnout of the voting: "The main reason for the high turnout is that the issues that were put to the vote are really important for people. Voters came to the polls because they want to be heard on these issues. The Constitution is the fundamental document for the country, so the high turnout is not surprising. It should be so."

"Observers, including those from opposition organizations, recorded only a small number of minor violations. There were no gross violations, that could cast doubt on the results" added Fedorova.[5]

Dmitry Drize a featured columnist for Kommersant wrote in an article titled "The Authorities Got the Result that They Needed"that the strategy of packing all the amendments together was a winning one. Every person found an amendment that appealed to him. A pensioner got annual indexation of pensions. Those who believed in the family as the country's spiritual backbone received an amendment postulating that "there would be no 'parent 1' or 'parent 2', but [a family meant] only a man and a woman."Moderate reformers got some semblance of parliamentary oversight etc. And since the government is also part of society it inserted some amendments on its own behalf.

The government also gave the people a sense of involvement in a major event the ratification of a constitution. Additionally, the government was still benefitting from the impression that it had restored Russia's position as a great power. "There is such a thing as an appeal to consciousness. The process itself is important here - the country has reached a new level. We have passed through the stages of a long journey, and you, the deep nation, are a direct participant. You are part of the important process of rising from your knees. Yes, 'Crimea is ours'constitutes a unifying idea. We are no longer humiliated and insulted, we are a power, and this is enshrined in the basic law. The 90s are defeated. In other words, you do not need to see only the notorious resetting [of Putin's presidential terms] to zero- look at the broader picture: we are doing everything for you, we are trying."

Amendment backers appeal to patriotism in a campaign billboard that reads "We will defend our ancestors'memory (Source: Rbc.ru)

Drize also criticizes the lack of a unified opposition plan: "Some critics might say that the state used administrative resources but if people everywhere are against, similar tactics will not work...The opponents of the amendments conducted a difficult and prolonged battle with each other...as a result the authorities got the result they wanted."[6]

Political analyst Sergei Mikheyev claimed that what interested the voters was survival and they voted in favor of amendments pushing other considerations aside"Do you call this [voting behavior a] lack of enlightenment? This is the deep wisdom that allows Russia to survive. When some personal resentments, inconveniences, and sometimes even abuse and crimes of power fade into the background when survival is at stake".[7]

Critics Of The Voting: The Fix Was In From The Beginning

Regime opponents were far from convinced that fair elections had been conducted, and claimed that the authorities had set themselves goals for both turnout and percentage in favor of the amendments and then manipulated the vote to get the desired results.

Political scientist Fedor Krasheninnikov argued that the election was a sham: "We were informed in advance that the turnout would be about 70% and the votes 'for'the amendments will amount to 70%. These predefined numbers are now being drawn up [by election commissions] ... It was not a genuine vote, but an imitation of it ..."[8]

Alexander Kynev, another political scientist, claimed that the regime won thanks to its ability to impose fear on certain voters:

"Cities no longer want to support the current government... Authority in Russia is based purely on coercion - this is the main result of the vote. (...) The group most loyal to Putin is comprised of those who succumb to state pressure... those who fear losing their jobs."

Although he did not believe these were fair elections, Kynev still criticizes the boycott of the voting advocated by Navalny: "The result of the protest vote in the cities shows the defeat of Navalny's plan, for the first time in many years he made a gross political mistake. "[9]

Prominent physicist Sergei Shpilkin, who specializes in vote analysis claimed that he had discovered evidence proving that the June 25-July 1 plebiscite had been tainted.

Shpilkin's graphs of 88 million votes show shares of :"yes"votes approaching 100% in precincts that reported similarly abnormally high turnouts. Shpilkin's estimate is that up to 22 million votes may have been cast fraudulently. He concluded: "There was no manipulation of votes in Russia's elections on this scale in the recent past. In absolute terms, this is an unprecedented case."[10]

Shpilkin believed the actual vote approximated the following: The real turnout, apparently, was about 44%, and the percentage of votes for the amendments was about 65%. Thus, the number of voters who voted for the amendments was approximately 29% of all Russian voters, or about 31 million people.

Sergey Shpilkin (Source: Newtimes.ru)

Political consultant Gleb Pavlovsky accepted Shpilkin's figures as authoritative and claimed that they did not bode well for Putin: I think that this is the beginning of another era. It was important for Putin to acquire a tool to cow his inner circle, so that they would not snoop with their eyes [in search of a successor]. He did not get it. He demonstrated that almost half of the country does not support him. He has big problems."[11]

Liberal politician Boris Gudkov writing in Echo of Moscow claimed that Putin had lost in reality despite an election deck stacked in his favor "He lost under conditions when he banned campaigning against constitutional amendments. He lost, despite disguising his 'reset to zero'"with a veneer of minor amendments. He lost, despite the titanic efforts of the entire propaganda apparatus and huge financial resources thrown "into battle" in support of his life-long rule! Today we already know how the Kremlin's result was "forged"by crooks from the election commissions: according to official figures, 83.6% (!) (58.5 out of 70 million) of the citizens who allegedly took part in the vote voted 'ahead of schedule', i.e. beyond ALL CONTROL [emphasis original] and independent monitoring. Our fraudulent electoral system has never had such favorable opportunities for total fraud."[12]

A Third Approach: Putin Won But His Opponents Can Also Draw Encouragement From The Results

In contrast to the approaches that celebrated Putin's triumph or decried the vote as a fraud, a third approach claimed that Putin's victory was genuine but not a total knockout and therefore the regime would hitherto have to consider the positions of its opponents.

Political scientist Alexei Makarkin believes the results were genuine as the authorities had successfully mobilized administrative resources. However, the opposition as well could take comfort in the results "The entire campaign that accompanied this vote carried a message that the people are 'for'the amendments, and only a few marginals are opposed to them. Suddenly it turns out that the situation is not so simple."[13]

Mk.ru's observer [featured columnist] Mikhail Rostovsky authored an extensive analysis in this vein that is reproduced below in full. Perhaps Rostovsky was influenced by the fact that Mk.ru is read by both sides, but he essentially requested the opposition to respect the vote and take solace in the fact that they had proven themselves a serious force. He also opined that despite the new constitution allowing Putin to continue in office till the age of 83, he was now further convinced that Putin would not exercise this option. Rostovsky wrote:

"Putin and the new version of the Constitution that he promoted have definitely won. But by the same token the opponents of the new version of the Basic Law did not lose unequivocally. The voting results, which ended on July 1, were a rare example of political balance. The level of support that received power is quite sufficient to maintain governance in the state. But it is likewise impossible to say that the government has received an absolute mandate.

"A political split within a country is usually a bad thing. However, sometimes the existence in society of two opposing opinions that enjoy wide enough support, can, on the contrary, play a stabilizing role. When deciding on resetting Putin's presidential terms to zero, Russia adopted a Solomonic decision the best that is possible in this situation. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is required to work with both those who voted for it and those who voted against.

"The most dangerous official outcome for the country's future would be the Central Asian version where the level of support for the new version of the Constitution stood at 100% of the vote. Some national republics of Russia exhibited results closely approximating this 'standard of success': Chechnya - 97.92% (who would doubt it), Tuva - 96.79.

"But such results do not seem very typical even against the background of other national regions with well-developed traditions of 'respect for the bosses': Bashkiria - 88.68%, Mordovia 85.60%.

"And such indicators seem completely atypical against the background of the authorities'results in other territories. Moscow: 65.29% in favor and 33.98% against. Kamchatka: 61.76% in favor and 37.16% against. Arkhangelsk region: 65.78% for and 33.98% and against. Magadan: 62.03% in favor and 36.62% against.

"There was even a region in Russia in which the draft Constitution was defeated by an absolute majority. The Nenets Autonomous Okrug found itself in this unusual role in which no new version of the Basic Law exists. 55.25% of the voters who participated in the vote said.

"What do such results attest to regarding the country's will? [Namely]that there exist two competing visions of Russia's future that are supported by society. Here is how, even before the vote, they were described on social networks by the VTsIOM General Director Valery Fedorov: 'Those in favor of the amendments view them as guarantees for continuing Putin's patriotic and social policies. And that suits them perfectly. They support it. And resetting to zero for some of them is not that important, but for the other part it is even a positive, because it reinforces guarantees of a constant course. Those who are against saw the resetting [of Putin's terms] as negative- because they do not want to continue living under Putin, who [even] today does not suit them.

"Of course, the balance of power between those who are for and those who are opposed is obviously uneven. But the one fifth part of the population who said no to the revision of the Constitution is not 'a bunch of social misfits'. Yes, this is a minority. But not an overwhelming minority. This is a very significant part of the population, whose presence the authorities simply cannot ignore.

"Is the formation of this significant minority the first step towards the emergence of a truly competitive policy in Russia? I really want to, but, unfortunately, I cannot answer this question in the affirmative.

"A traditional problem for Russian opponents of the government is their inability to unite around a single candidate. At the vote on the draft Constitution, they did not have such a problem. The candidate "I am against amendments" united both Communists , Navalny supporters, and all others who do not support Putin. However, already during the next election exam for the authorities - a single voting day in September - the political game will again be conducted according to the usual rules.

"But I still believe my point is accurate: the presence of a significant political minority in the country can have a positive impact on our public life. It is a given that those who favor change and those who back stability are usually opposed. But an alternative view of the situation is possible: they not only oppose, but they also complement each other.

"Continuous changes, without a steering wheel and rudder, are a sure road to chaos. Absolute stability without change is synonymous with hopeless stagnation. How do these general considerations apply to Russian politics in applied terms? I think that's how. Theoretically, a new version of the Constitution gives Vladimir Putin the right to remain in office as president until 2036. I did not believe in the fact that this will be so even before the popular vote. Now I do not believe it even more so.

"Voting results for the authorities are not the pep talks from the hoary Soviet joke: 'We are ready to carry out any task of any party and any government!' Voting results for the authorities show quite a significant level of available support, however, with an entire series of conditions. Like, we trust you, Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], of course, but ...

"Perhaps I am engaging in wishful thinking. But, if you were to choose from a whole set of other realistic options, I think this situation is optimal for the country. In a situation where COVID-19 plunged the world into a crisis, and an easy way out of it is not yet visible, Russia vitally needs a strong and self-confident power. But at the same time, the government should not feel itself eternal and omnipotent; it should not assume that citizens would happily consider rubberstamping any decision. It seems to me that the results of the popular vote on amendments to the Constitution send to those who are now at Russia's helm a similar mixed and ambiguous signal.

"Commenting on the results of voting on social networks, the famous Russian journalist Ekaterina Vinokurova addressed everyone with a passionate appeal: 'All in all, it is unnecessary to declare those who think differently enemies. There is no need to insist that [everyone must] join unified ranks on one side of the barricades.'That is eloquently put. An attempt to put everyone into a single line, has on more than one occasion pushed Russia onto a dead end path of development. The majority must respect the opinion of the minority, and the minority - the position of the majority.

"The resetting of Putin's presidential terms to zero has occurred. However, this was done during a popular vote, the results of which, on the whole, appear to fully approximate reality. Russia is divided into those who like to reset Putin's presidential terms to zero and those who are uncomfortable with this. But the country still has a working institution of elections albeit imperfect, albeit with failures . This institution should remain a universal method for resolving the issue of power and resolving political differences in Russia. Despite the limited effectiveness of this method in our specific Russian conditions, others are still worse.[14]

Mikhail Rostovsky (Source: Mk.ru)

[1] Tass.ru, July 2, 2020.

[2] Tvrain.ru, July 2, 2020.

[3] Twitter.com/navalny/, July 1, 2020.

[4] T.me/tolk_tolk, July 2, 2020,

[6] Kommersant.ru, July 2, 2020.

[7] Tvk6.ru, July 5, 2020.

[8] Novayagazeta.ru, July 1, 2020.

[9] Novayagazeta.ru, July 1, 2020.

[10] Themoscowtimes.com, July 3, 2020.

[11] Tvk6.ru, July 5, 2020.

[12] Echo.msk.ru, July 5, 2020.

[13] Tvk6.ru, July 5, 2020.

[14] Mk.ru, July 2, 2020.

Original post:

Russia's Vote On The Constitutional Amendments A Putin Triumph, An Electoral Fraud, Or A Step Towards A More Balanced Political System? - Middle East...

If you have done much spiritual study, you probably already know that gratitude is an essential spiritual attitude. Without gratitude, our minds naturally focus on the negative until negativity becomes an ingrained habit, and the gift of life and the possibility for growth is lost to us. Typically, gratitude practice focuses on the external features of our lives being grateful for the abundance we have, seeing struggle as an opportunity for growth, and so forth. But what if we were able to transmit gratitude right into your own energy system?

Chakra affirmations are a way to make sure all aspects of your life are soaked in an attitude of gratitude. The chakras, as you may know, are the centers within your physical body that regulate the flow of different types of energy in and out of your life. By focusing on each chakra as you transmit gratitude, you ensure that every area of your life is receiving your blessing and your positivity. And, this practice can help you heal your chakras, which often carry unresolved pain and trauma from the past.

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of chakras, I recommend reading an article or two about them so that you understand the nature of each of the seven chakras. Although you could do these at any time, you might also want to do some relaxation, meditation, or focusing exercises before you begin. You may also wish to place your hands upon each chakra as you repeat these affirmations. I recommend that you start with the simple affirmations offered below, and then later adapt and revise them to be more specific to your individual situation and level of understanding:

First Chakra (Root)Thank you for my life. Thanks to you, I am living the adventure of growth of the soul. Thank you to my birth parents and to all who nurtured my mind and body in infancy and childhood. Thank you for giving me my foundation and my confidence.

Second Chakra (Sacral)Thank you for my creative power. Thank you for my fertility of both mind and body. Thank you for the fire in the belly that gives motion and energy to everything that I do. Thank you for my physical strength and for my increasing health and wellbeing.

Third Chakra (Solar Plexus)Thank you for my willpower. Thank you for the hope that you give to my life and to the world, and for the potential for growth and change that you provide. Thank you for the inner power that I draw from you and for the goals that you allow me to achieve.

Fourth Chakra (Heart)Thank you for my ability to love and to connect to others. Thank you for all the emotions, both positive and negative, that give richness to my life. Thank you for my capacity for forgiveness and acceptance. Thank you for my compassion and my empathy. Thank you for my sincere desire to connect to my soul.

Fifth Chakra (Throat)Thank you for my voice. Thank you for my ability to sing and to laugh and to express joy. Thank you also for my ability to cry and to express my sorrow. Thank you for my ability to speak my truth with confidence and honesty.

Sixth Chakra (Third Eye)Thank you for my intuition. Thank you for my ever-expanding awareness and for the wisdom that you bring. Thank you for the many insights that you give to help me on my way through life, and thank you for the ability to perceive something grander than this temporary life.

Seventh Chakra (Crown)Thank you for my true self. Thank you for this precious opportunity for completion and for the capacity for true enlightenment. Thank you for the soul that raises me above the limitations of a life lived only for the physical body. Thank you for the bliss I feel in my meetings with the divinity within.

Chakra affirmations are not simply for narcissistic purposes. Yes, they can help you heal individually, but, ultimately, your chakras are not just about you; they connect you to the vast energetic system that permeates the universe. By healing your chakras and feeling deep gratitude for them, you are also improving your connection to the flow of universal energy in general. Through your root chakra, you are rooted in the earth, not unlike a towering oak tree. Through your crown chakra, you are connected to the unseen spiritual realm. And, all the other chakras connect you to other souls and to the journey you are experiencing on this plane. Your energy system is an important part of the miracle that is your life, and it is worthy of genuine expressions of gratitude.

If you would like to understand and connect to your chakras more deeply through principles and energy practice, I invite you to look at my book, Healing Chakras: Awaken Your Bodys Energy System for Complete Health, Happiness, and Peace.

Read more:

Chakra Affirmations: Feeling Gratitude to the Core of Your Being - Patheos

He is best remembered for his intricate studies of Sufistic and Vedantic cultures and tradition, and for providing an introspect into the discernment of their praxis.

The breathtaking Humayuns Tomb, one of the progenitors of the legendary Pietra Dura, is a twenty minute jaunt from the hubbub of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. Its voguish popularity comes from housing the mausoleum of the celebrated Emperor Humayun, who passed away in 1556, after a sudden fall from the staircase of his library at the octagonal Sher Mandal, one of the finest architectural specimens of the Sur Empire at Purana Qila.

Mughals have been known for their architectural marvels, their staunch Sunni policies propagated under Aurangzeb, the fabulous wealth they possessed and the lush compartments of their castles!

After Humayuns demise, Akbar took over the throne of Hindustan. He was one of the earliest Mughals who preached the message of Secularistic policies, having entered into matrimonial alliances with Mariam uz Zamani, whos also referred to as Harka Bai, and often misinterpreted as Jodha! Akbar was illiterate. However, his craving to understand the scriptures of the land he ruled, led him to set up a separate department for transliterations of the Indian Epics and the Vedas called the Maktab Khana, in 1574. He curbed the absolute autocracy of the Ulemas, propagandising the Mazhar or the Infallibility Decree, which enabled him to advance on his vision of a multicultural Hindustan!

Jahangir, the fourth Great Mughal went on Akbars policies, though at times, he entered into certain conflicts with the Sikhs whose Guru, Arjan Dev, had blessed his son Khusrau Khan, to rebel against him. Regardless of the rise of conflicts with the Northwestern Province that was dominated by the Sikhs,Jahangir was someone whod been recognised as the epitome of justice and equality!

With his death, after a tussle, Shah Jahan ascended the imperial throne. It is after Shah Jahans illness that his sons, the Shahzadas of the Empire, marched against each other and duelled in what was, the most bitter of war of successions in Mughal history!

Aurangzeb, the devout Sunni marched from the Deccan. He was one of the ablest commanders of the Mughal infantry. Shah Shuja, the wasted flippant advanced from Bengal while Murad joined Aurangzeb at Gujarat.

Shah Jahan favoured his eldest son, Dara Shikoh. To reason with the cause, Dara was born during turbulent times. He had been interred in the Lahore Fort for several years, under the suspicious eyes of Nur Jahan. With Jahangirs death and vacillation of the throne, Dara was set free. Thus, he spent initial days of his life, imprisoned.

He is best remembered for his intricate studies of Sufistic and Vedantic cultures and tradition, and for providing an introspect into the discernment of their praxis. With a Sufistic approach in his writings, we have seen how Dara Shikoh approaches his own conclusions after a strict analysis of the subject. He was never, in his writings, found to be biased towards any particular dogma or religious faith. His conclusion, that the highest truth exists in all religions was widely resented by the ulemas. Dara never faltered. He carried on wide discussions with various Sufi and Vedantic Mystics and conglomerated all his studies of the religious atmosphere of the age, into the book, Majma Ul Bahrain or Mingling of Two Oceans. He had a Sufistic background, ever since childhood. His first book was called, Safinat ul Auliya which highlights the life and biographies of leading Sufi saints of his age. Dara addresses them as Pir i Kamil and believes that the Almighty has sent them to guide his people. He writes, No one is more compassionate and magnanimous, erudite and practical, humble and polite, heroic and charitable than the members of this hierarchy of the saints. Dara himself was of a Qadri Sufistic order and his second biography, Sakinat ul Auliya deals with the life and teachings of some of the greatest saints of this order. Dara authored this book, after he came in contact with Miyan Mir, a Qadriyya. He has penned down Nothing attracts me more than this Qadri order, which has fulfilled my spiritual aspirations, which confirms that he, himself was of the Qadri order. Qadriyyas trace their descendants to the Prophet Muhammed, their first preacher being Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani of Baghdad. It must however be noted that Miyan Mir and Mulla Shah Badakshani exercised a powerful opinion over Dara Shikoh. However, Dara continued his religious discussions as earlier, with various theologians from different religious backgrounds.

With a similar interest in Hindu scriptures, like that of his great grandfather, Akbar, Dara carried mass religious discussions with leading Hindu scholars like Baba Lal Das Bairagi and Jagannath Mishra, along the banks of the Ganges in Benaras. These discussions led to his enlightenment which brought forth translations of the Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedas.

In his book, Risala i Haq Nama, Dara states four steps to become a perfect Sufi.

The most appealing fact in it is, the stages mentioned are quite similar to those of the Hindu Tantriks. Popular historian, Yoginder Sikand says, Further, he(Dara) suggests that the four planes through which the Sufi seekers journey takes him- Nasut , Jabrut, Malakut and Lahut- correspond to the Hindu concept of the Avasthanam or the four states of Jagrat, Swapna, Shushpati and Turiya.. This brings about the truth, how Dara contemplates an analysis of comparison between two particular religions, studying customs of each intricately, and bringing about the theory.

In his compilation of verses, named Diwan i Dara Shikoh or the Iksir-i Azam, these thoughts of the prince are highlighted through his poetic talent.

Look where you can, All is He,

Gods face is ever face to face.

Whatever you behold except Him is the object of your fancy,

Things other than He have an existence like a mirage.

The existence of God is like a boundless ocean,

People are like forms and waves in its water.

Though I do not consider myself separate from Him,

Yet I do not consider myself God.

Whatever relation the drop bears with the ocean,

That I hold true in my belief, and nothing beyond.

We have not seen an atom separate from the Sun,

Every drop of water is the sea in itself.

With what name should one call the Truth?

Every name that exists is one of Gods names.

This verse of Dara is taken from his perspectives on Monotheism or tauhid. Dara exemplifies his thought with a substantial point, where he defines a drop of water or even the molecules to be a part of the endless stretch of the ocean.

Things changed for Dara after Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657 AD and the commence of the war of succession between the princes. A rampage led by his younger brothers, Aurangzeb and Murad, dethroned his authority. The wandering prince set out to flee, leaving all his treasure-houses of knowledge and manuscripts, behind. Dara would contest another less documented rivalry with Alamgir, only to be captured in 1659 AD. He would be executed on charges of sedition and apostasy by the victorious Aurangzeb, under the instigation of the Mullahs.

Dara was a man of compassion. Hatred never dared to enter his region. However, he wasnt aware of how minacious hatred could be.

Unfortunately, this great heir of the Imperial Mughals, lies unknown and forgotten, buried in a

non-descript tomb in the mausoleum complexes of the regal Emperor Humayun, having not achieved, the place he had deserved to, in the pages of history!

Read more from the original source:

Dara Shikoh: The Prince who would never be King - The Sunday Guardian

(MENAFN - Kashmir Observer) Village of Aru

Four years after my first visit, there is little that has changed about the hamlet. Nestled among the hills, it looks straight from those story books, read years ago at school

IT WAS around two in the afternoon when Hussain, our sturdy little stole weaver friend from Pahalgam, dropped us in his rickety Maruti Zen at Aru - a pretty village set amidst tall Himalayan mountains, boundaring Lidderwatt valley on one side and Aram Pathri on the other. It had been four years since I was last here; not that much had changed, except, perhaps for odd tourists - one's riding the cross-bed, malnourished horses (or mules should I say). The horsemen in their own innocence treated callow and credulous tourists with their self made tales to attract awe. I overheard one horseman pointing to the Tourism caf - proudly declaring it the Mansion that Amrita Singh owned in Betaab movie. Betaab was shot some 20 kms away from Aru.

There is a strange mystic energy in Aru. It is said Katarnag - a lake that overlooks Aru, is one of the few places in world where there is extreme confluence of cosmic energy within a matrix of time. I'm not sure who did this research, but I'm hardly surprised. When you trek towards Aram Pathri or Katarnag, there is an abandoned hermit's cave on the way. Right above it are remains of a fort unknown to which period it belongs to, giving an indication that Aru in ancient times did hold an important position.

Katarnag perched in between two mountains cliffs

We yearned for a cup of tea to plan our trip on. Last time when I was here, I had befriended a virtuous man named Ashraf. Ashraf had a modest motel back then but his cooking skills were boastful. I looked around for him. Unfortunately, the motel was rented to some other guy it seemed this year. Just as when we finished our tea, Ashraf walked in to my surprise. He looked pale and had lost weight. I greeted him, to which he responded. He recalled how we had parked our car in this motel's backyard and how we relished his late night candle-lit dinner in rain drenched clothes. Four years back the high alpine torrential rains had followed us all over from Aru to Kolohai Glacier. For this year, Ashraf had taken a provision store near the other alley of the village. He told me he was not well and had some neurotic disorder, for which he was treated in Shehar (Srinagar).

Ashraf was actually from Sallar- a beautiful village on the road between Bijbehara and Pahalgam. Meanwhile we were introduced to Ali Bab - a 50 something year old man, who owned two horses and ferried tourists around Aru on them. He was tall, strong and had a slight bent back. He resembled Clint Eastwood. Ali Bab agreed to help us and offered himself to be our guide for our next day's trek to Aram Pathri, as we laid our map on the dark brown table, sipping tea. Shawl, Ali Bab, Javed (the motel owner), Ashraf and I drawing our essential items required for the trip. As we came to know later, Ali Bab's true love lied in mountains. People respected him a lot, fondly calling him the 'Akash' of these mountains. He invited us to stay with him at his house for the night and leave tomorrow early morning for Aram Pathri. We buoyantly agreed. We preferred to stay close to village life for a day. Eat in their utensils, share their joy and assemble some memories.

As we passed through the narrow alleys of Aru Village, life seemed sullen and dull - a quiet oasis. No one seemed to be in any haste. An old couple was sitting on the porch puffing hukka by turns; colorful dorking roosters with flowing earlobes were crowing almost from every house- houses that had thatched rooftops and brown sludge barns; aspen like Poplar trees were swirling with the wind carried from the surrounding mountains; pretty village girls lined up near the narrow stream, which flowed right through this hamlet, washing clothes: smiling and giggling as we passed, whispering jokes. Perhaps, they were amused to see two city dwellers walking into a village; a village which visibly had had not hosted a visitor from a longtime.

Ali Bab's house was a typical village log-hut warm with lots of wood work and clay quoting. In the hallway lied a stack of rice bags and whole gram, an indication that the family was doing well. After all, Ali Bab had been tending backpackers over the years. As he said later that afternoon while sipping noon chai in his koshur pyale, that his life was different before '90 and he visibly missed it.

We took to the guest room, on the first floor, through a wooden stair-way that amplified the noise of footsteps. The wooden stair-way reminded me of my childhood days at my ancestral house in Khanyar. The sound produced by the footsteps were distinct, for our each family member. Father's were delicate but brisk. Grandfather's were the first I used to hear early in the morning. His resembled as if someone was playing drum beats with great musical taste.

The room was large with beige clay coating on walls and tiny shapeless mirrors engraved at some places. Windows from two opposite far ends ventilated the room perfectly. Calendars from yesteryears officiated as decorative hangings.

By now it was evening: calm and melancholic. Smokey chimneys left grey incense clouds in the air, which in the evening hue looked like fairies dancing, as I gaped through the window. The village looked straight from those story books, read years ago at school. Ali Bab came back from the day's work and tied his two horses in the barn.

Dinner was ready and we were called out to join. Kitchen was neat and shiny. Copper appliances adorned the shelves right across the entire lengths of its walls. The radio played Kashmiri songs in the voice of Waheed Jeelani. Ali Bab's wife Hasina was puffing hooka and daughter Zahida was busy giving final touches to the chicken which Ali Bab had brought from the nearby shop. Soon a mid aged man entered and introduced himself.

Ali Bab's log hut with a barn in foreground

- I'm Mushtaq Ahmed Shah', stressing on Shah. As he later told me, Shah is a revered and elite cast in villages. Mushtaq worked in the forest dept. and was posted at Aru. He was Hasina's distant relative, who meanwhile still was concentrating on her hukka. Hasina on her part had grown old. Wrinkles on her face spoke a nonchalant tale about her hard life. She had deep green graceful eyes, the ones which generate warmth and acceptance easily. Years of carrying firewood from the forest could be seen written all over her. And she was visibly irritated at her husband's penchant for mountains. I think the idea of being left all alone, all by themselves, was the reason for such churlishness. The couple had three daughters- two were married. Walls in the living room adorned pictures of two son-in-laws. Zahida was youngest and unmarried. She had a distinct village girl look. Fair, young and exceedingly orange. In fact she was orange right from her crochet woolen cardigan to her plump cheeks.

While waiting for the dinner I couldn't help but picture the scene where wedding of Ali Bab's daughters must have been ceremonised. Guests must have poured from near and far. The open patch of land near the barn must have been decorated with red and yellow draperies for grooms welcome. Women must have danced rouf and sung folk songs. Biding adieu to his daughters must have been painful for Ali Bab and Hasina. The doughty man must have wiped tears flowing over his stubble beard.

The music from the radio was slow. In a moment my vague imagination got me thinking about when Ali Bab's father or mother must have died. It must have been a harsh winter day. Everything must have been covered in thick white snow. The local cleric must have offered funeral prayers in the courtyard. Winters are tough for old to survive. Thinking about the years that must have gone by in this household connected me to this family. We ate our dinner together and retired to sleep. Next day we had to start early.

We were heading for the mountains of Aram Pathri, a trek that would take us into a wilderness of peaks, inhabited by nomads who wound their way through untrammeled landscape. Aram Pathri is a valley that lies straight above the cliff when looked from the Aru village verge. We started off early in the morning, walking through the village first, where people greeted Ali Bab all along; then through the passage above the stream which carries waters from Katarnag and various other glaciers. The noise formed by the gushing waters hitting rocks early in the morning with pleasant air and absolute pristine clear blue skies gave enough of what was more to be expected. The aroma of cedar and pine was growing and Aru village seemed distance away, unseen now amidst tall pine trees. Our first brush with human habitation was at Gagan Gir- a tiny shepherd hamlet, which acted as the first halt for these yearly visitors. We decided to have tea in a shepherd hut.

The hut was constructed of four sturdy trunks around which stone walls had been built, using mud as mortar. Someone had pushed little strands of wild plants into the cracks, allowing them to cascade down the walls. The family inside it sat mute, smiling.

We entered and made ourselves comfortable on the hay. Soon the hut was engulfed by children, who came to see the uninvited visitors. We clicked their pictures and received smiles in return. Not bad for a bargain. The elder shepherd men sported Babylon beards and could be easily mistaken as old testament prophets. Turbans were usually green and colored. Shalwars and loose duffel shirts were topped by brocade jackets which seemed to have endless pockets. Women wore robes of beautiful color with beaded hair and shawls draped over. Jewellery was minimum but enough to grab an eye. Copper earnings and nose beads on those charming shy faces looked absolute pristine.

We pushed along a herder's path through whistling pines till we criss-crossed ancient boulders, formed by thousands of years of sedimentation. Green pastures awaited us after few difficult jumps on the boulders were safely negotiated. The smell of lilac filled the air. The skies were clear, meadow bereaved even of grazing sheep- we were clearly a few weeks too early into these pastures. The wildflowers were only just coming out on the hillsides, springing up with extra vigor because of the snowmelt. Little streams wound between pollarded willows, their crystal-clear water flowing between banks of vivid green moss. We took small breathers, in between, inhaling the fresh spring air of high Himalayan alpine pastures.

We camped at a place called as lower Aram Pathri the snow ahead us preventing to pitch our tent anywhere else. We had an empty shepherd's hut close-by, where Ali Bab tied his ponies and prepared hot sipping tea on the earthen fire pot, which would be used by its owners in a few weeks time. A small stream flowed along the ridges, where we had spotted a brown bear. A few annoying whistles by Ali Bab seemed to scare him him.

With enough time on hand, we spent the remaining late afternoon lazing around, reading books, giving rest to our tired legs, laying feet in ice-cold water of the stream firm in our belief that these pastures and meadows must have hosted many a Sufis and yogis in olden times. The landscape evokes spirituality, Shawl and I contemplated, as darkness deepened, with sun going down above the cragged peaks.

We spoke about many things seated near our campsite- Sufism, spirituality, meditation, Kashmir. We go back a long way, me and Shawl. A friendship that fostered on mutual admiration and liking- we have too many things in common: which made us to call each other soul-mates. It's a wonderful feeling to have deep inside our heart, that there is a friend whom you can call anytime, for anything.

Our conversation kept on drifting, invoking deep and profound reverie on the spiritual up-liftment of the soul. Of how the wiseness lies in letting go off things at times. Everything that we desire, may not necessarily belong to us,' quipped Shawl, while nibbling on the lamb steak. I had recently laid my hands on a Zen book, that dwelled on the purpose of life. We argued over desire- which suffocates our soul inside. Desire has no end, we both seemed to agree. The meteorite streaked skies above us, and Ali Bab's uninterrupted lipton chai, kept our conversation going. Suddenly, the absolute wilderness around us insinuated our expressiveness - the lack of which we all suffer from. We have to embrace the wisdom of humanity, the meaning of life is to serve the force that sent us into this world. Then life becomes a joy,' Shawl quoted Tolstoy. Let doubts dilate in us about our own existence, I quietly whispered to myself while Ali Bab refilled our cups. Small doubts, small enlightenment. Great doubt, great enlightenment, I remembered a Zen saying from the book that I'd been reading.

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Aru and Its Enchanting Cosmic Energy - MENAFN.COM

Kanye West shows President Donald Trump a picture on his mobile phone during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House, October 11, 2018. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)What can be done to reduce the influence of fame on our civic life?

NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLEOn July 4, Kanye West announced on Twitter his intention to seek the highest office in the land. Its not clear what we should make of this. Internet commentators unleashed a biblical deluge of late registration puns, pointing out that Mr. West has missed the deadline to make it onto the presidential ballot in at least six states, with the deadline for seven other states coming up in July. It also appears that he has yet to file the requisite paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission. Consequently, most people (though not Elon Musk, apparently) seem to be taking the announcement with a large grain of salt. Some have even put it down to shameless self-promotion, with Kanyes next album and his new Gap fashion line set for upcoming release. Whatever the case may be and who can really say, this is Kanye were talking about, after all there is a broader point to be made about the encroachment of celebrity culture into the electoral landscape.

President Trump is the most obvious example. For years, he was beamed into our living-rooms, presiding over the rat-race of American capitalism as the King of the Hill, the incarnation of the success that every sharp-elbowed would-be entrepreneur aspired to. The Apprentice sold Trump to the viewing public as an all-American amalgam of Gordon Gecko and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and it was perhaps nave for so many to imagine in 2016 that the image created in those years of reality-TV stardom would have no bearing on his electoral chances once he threw his hat into the ring.

We all know by now that the line between politics and entertainment has become increasingly blurred. Fictional shows and news networks measure themselves by the same standard: ratings. After the 2016 election, CNN CEO Jeff Zucker even entertained the notion that his network was partially responsible for the result because of its monomaniacal coverage of the Trump campaign. Whether or not thats true, any analysis of the last presidential election certainly has to take into account the fact that Trump is always appointment viewing.

It could be argued that being good on television has been a sine qua non for presidential candidates since the KennedyNixon debates of 1960. But even so, entertainment value has risen exponentially on the list of desirable attributes for politicians since then. The way Americans talk about candidates for high office in 2020 resembles nothing so much as amateur film criticism: I dont feel like I can identify with him, her story is very compelling, hes just not connecting with the audience. Of course, theater has always played an important role in politics, but why does it increasingly feel as if this role is the starring one?

Those inclined to reduce social and political events to material factors will probably be content to note the stunning multiplication of screens in American households in recent years and leave it at that. We are all watching more television, more YouTube, more Twitter clips than we were before, and so it is natural that the long-standing desire for entertainment in politics has become magnified. The television is, according to this reading of the facts, like the gun left on the mantlepiece in Act I of Nabokovs play; by Act III of the digital revolution, we were bound to use it for something important, like choosing a president.

Theres a lot of truth in this, but not enough. As Fustel de Coulanges wrote, historys true object of study is the human mind: It should aspire to know what this mind believed, thought, and felt in different ages in the life of the human race. In that spirit, we should reflect upon our repeated attempts to tear down the wall of separation between power and pleasure if we want to knock entertainment from the pedestal it occupies in our politics. Ask yourself: When was the last time the more boring of the two major-party nominees won a general election?

Alexis de Tocqueville made some observations about the nature of life in American society almost 200 years ago that are relevant here. He noted that the attitudes of people toward their neighbors in a democratic society are strikingly different from those in the aristocratic societies of the old world. The driver of this difference is the spirit of comparison that exists in nations tmarked by the formal equality of their citizens:

In certain areas of the Old World . . . the inhabitants are for the most part extremely ignorant and poor; they take no part in the business of the country and are frequently oppressed by the government, yet their countenances are generally placid and their spirits light. In America I saw the freest and most enlightened men placed in the happiest circumstances that the world affords; it seemed to me that a cloud habitually hung upon their brows, and I thought them serious and almost sad, even in their pleasures. The chief reason for this contrast is that the former do not think of the ills they endure, while the latter are forever brooding over the advantages they do not possess.

Larry Siedentop has noted, Whereas identities in an aristocratic society seem natural or fated, in a democratic society they are constructed or artificial. . . . Individuals can distinguish between persons and roles, compare roles and aspire (at least in principle) to almost any role. This spirit of comparison, fostered by the formal legal equality of all citizens, leads to an astounding release of energy in democratic societies as individuals are no longer bound by inherited roles or identities and can aspire to status, wealth, and power:

When people no longer feel tied to a particular situation, they compare what they have with what they might have, and the consequence is the multiplication of wants. Instead of the static wants of an aristocratic society, where people feel that their lot is fixed, members of a democratic society are obsessed with acquiring what they do not yet have.

This phenomenon was examined at length in economic terms by Adam Smith and other philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment, but what really fascinated Tocqueville was the impact it has on the human soul. Civic equality is a double-edged sword, for while it succeeds in multiplying the desires of the masses, it also multiplies their disappointment and frustration as they find that status, wealth, and power are still concentrated in the hands of a small number of people. Here is Tocqueville again:

The same equality that allows every citizen to conceive these lofty hopes renders all the citizens less able to realize them. . . . They have swept away the privileges of some of their fellow creatures that stood in their way, but they have opened the door to universal competition. . . . To these causes must be attributed that strange melancholy that often haunts the inhabitants of democratic countries in the midst of their abundance.

The most important difference between democratic and aristocratic societies is the mechanism by which benefits such as status and wealth are allocated. In an aristocratic society, they are distributed according to the sheer accident of birth. This is an unjust and depraved arrangement from which millions have suffered, but it also leads to a social situation where people never really consider the possibility that their lot in life might be otherwise than it is. When the possibility of constructing your own life and identity is ruled out of the question from the start, the frustration, discouragement, and resentment that accompany the failure to do so are as well. Majorities in aristocratic regimes may have suffered needlessly for centuries, and we should celebrate their downfall as a result, but according to Tocqueville, there is reason to believe that for large swaths of history these people were, on a spiritual level, more content in their sufferings than we are in our excesses.

Things are much different in democratic societies and almost always for the better, but democracy still brings its own challenges the systemic propensity for comparison is one. Once the notion that we are all created equal has penetrated deeply enough into the collective unconscious of a people, comparison is irresistible. There is no theoretical reason why a person cannot or should not aspire to the lot of another person in terms of power, wealth, or status if that other person is equal to him. In light of this fact, the market supplants birthright as the allocator of human goods, both physical and metaphysical. Since everyone is equal by birth, these things must be awarded to the man who can persuade his fellow equals to bestow them on him voluntarily. As a result, everyone in the community, faced with the possibility of success or failure where there was once only fate, is constantly assessing his progress in the endless competition, insecure in an identity that depends in no small part on the mercurial perceptions of the masses.

Imagine how this social dynamic plays out in, say, a New England port town at the turn of the 17th century, where two merchants are setting up rival operations somewhere on the Atlantic coast. Let us say that one of the merchants proves to be much more talented than the other, who is promptly run out of business. In purely economic terms, our sorry settler might still be in much better shape than a Russian serf living on the other side of the world, despite his failed venture. But he sees himself as a failure while the serf, never having gotten a chance to be anything else, is relatively content. The only thing separating the settlers lot in life from that of the wealthy merchant is, in his eyes, his own inadequacy. The serf, by contrast, sees the distance between himself and his lord as a matter of immutable fate, so it does not threaten his identity or torture his soul.

If the power of this spirit of competition in the context of civic equality can be demonstrated simply by appealing to an intuitive just-so story about fictional colonists, what are we to make of its role in a globalized, technologically interconnected world? By now, economic and cultural globalism in combination with the Internet have eviscerated the ability of local communities to effectively generate wealth and status, while the centralizing Leviathan of government has done the same to their ability to generate power. The field of comparison on which each person plays is not a small township, or even a local community, as it might have been for our parents; its the whole world.

The imprint that social comparison on this scale has on the average American is not to be underestimated. On social media and on reality television, all of us are welcomed into the highly curated lives of the wealthiest, most successful, most beautiful people on the planet. It is a sad irony of the modern world that while each generations quality of life improves, the bar for success is also set higher and higher. When everyone is competing in every way with those humans who have been touched in some exceptional way by the finger of God, then there will inevitably be those among us who feel so weightless and anonymous that they give in to despair and turn to chemical consolation prizes, robbing themselves of life and livelihood alike.

This kind of social dynamic also spells trouble for those who do reach the very top, though they might not know it. In the old, aristocratic model, it was still possible for elites to recognize the role that providence played in their good fortune. The acknowledgement that they were not the authors of their own prosperity left room for the notion that they had some duty to exercise their privileges for the common good. We wouldnt want to romanticize this too much. Noblesse oblige was likely far less common than high-handed arrogance and entitlement among the aristocrats of yesteryear. But at least it existed whereas among todays meritocrats, it doesnt. Given that the meritocratic ladder is a market mechanism, with credentials, jobs, and elections being decided (at least ostensibly) on the basis of merit, there is no logical reason for those at the top to believe that they owe anything to those at the bottom. Our culture reinforces the idea that they are the unilateral authors of their own success, just as it reinforces a similar notion about the failures of the down-and-outs.

Thus, Americans are left with two options: Either be a celebrity, or find one to champion you and make you feel visible. If youre successful in the socioeconomic marketplace, then you can have the satisfaction of comparing yourself with those in power and concluding that theyre not so different from you. You might not actually be in charge, but youre the kind of person who could be. If youre less successful, or if you identify with those who are, then your best bet is to find someone higher up the totem pole who is willing to act vicariously as your voice at the top. (This is the mutual appeal that populists and the disenfranchised have to one another when they are effective, which Trump exploited skillfully in 2016.)

Fine, but the question still remains: What should be done about this state of affairs? What is the remedy for celebrity politics? For one thing, dispersing as much political power as locally as possible would help to imbue communities, neighborhoods, and towns with a level of status, a tangible meaning to life. For another, reversing the decline in religious association across the country could help, as the dense social networks and communities that religious bodies provide render their members less vulnerable to the overtures of celebrity charlatans who promise to be their champion in the political arena. There are undoubtedly policies that should be pursued to rehabilitate other, nonreligious institutions that act as local reserves of human capital in communities across the country, as well. But in the end, the radical treatment required to rid us of the enervating influence of celebrity will not come from the state but from a religious faith that can stand contra mundum against the forces of fame and infamy and demonstrate that those chasing status, wealth, power, and privilege were running in the wrong direction all along.

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Trump, Kanye, and the Pernicious Politics of Celebrity - National Review

(YorkPedia Editorial):- Los Angeles, Jul 11, 2020 (Issuewire.com)MadeManMinistries has created an inspirational and integrated platform to restore humanity and morality in men, the physical reflection of God. Their aim is to unite men of good character hailing from a diverse range of ethnic and social backgrounds and share a common belief in the unadulterated fatherhood of God so that brotherhood prevails in communities.

MadeManMinistries is providing a divisive and digital way of a religious congregation through book readings that will help men to find spiritual closure through the teachings of the Bible and the Heavenly Father. The Bible is the rudimentary as well as the foundational text for individualistic characterization and this platform helps every one to get closer to cerebral joy and reasonability by realizing and deciphering the teachings of the Heavenly Father God, The Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Values and wisdom are slowly becoming volatile as men are constantly finding themselves as part of dynamic changes of the modern world. But what should always be remembered is the timeless teaching of the Almighty that will eventually lead us all to salvation. Only through the Holy text of Bible can men rebuilt a family where the man is recognized as the head of the household.

The platform regularly hosts religious readings of holy texts and books that leading men to a path of absolute truth. All our actions and decisions are metamorphosed into our fate and hence, it is extremely significant to understand our virtues and insight of moral being. Through guidance and illuminance of the Heavenly Father, mankind will reach and practice heartfelt brotherhood that looks after each other in times of hardships. Each text on the platform deals with a different philosophy thus allowing readers to find their true identity through metaphysical stories. This paves the way for enlightenment that helps men to rearrange life and perspectives through that of the Heavenly Father. Literature and religion symbolically represent each other and the Bible stands as the most popular religious texts helping man find the light to redemption.

Visit their website athttps://mademanministries.com/to cleanse your soul and decipher the affinity of religious and modern-day practicalities in your daily life.

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Enrich Your Religious Grounds Through Holy Texts And Discussions On Mademanministries - York Pedia

(Photo by Sebastian Coman Photography on Unsplash)

It has happened again. That little text from my tormenter at TGIFood that its my turn to write something for next weeks edition. Suddenly my world is turned upside-down. I pour a stiff whiskey and fall into a black hole. I will remain in that hole for the next week, agonising and racking my empty brain about something to write about. Fortunately we didnt have an alcohol ban here in Chicago so I can at least keep pouring stiff whiskeys while spending time in the black hole.

The problem is once I manage to write something and send it off I experience a brief sense of relief and then immediately plunge into another black hole convinced that Im about to publicly make a complete fool of myself. More stiff whiskey. At least Im not living in SA. I cant imagine spending time in my black hole pouring a stiff dop of my own homemade mampoer or skokiaan or whatever the stuff was that people brewed back home during the no alcohol phase of lockdown.

I thought I could write about the restaurant scene in Chicago but thats too depressing because there is no scene any more. In our current lockdown phase theyre only allowed to do safely spaced outdoor seating and takeout. Many people in the business agree that its probably not enough for most of them to survive. But rather this than whats happening in the southern states where restaurants never got shut down and have now become super spreaders. Depressing. Also, I promised myself that I wont write about the lockdown.

I must however admit that I experienced a little attack of schadenfreude when I saw a recent article in the NY Times about Fat Rice, a restaurant around the corner from me.

A husband and wife team opened it about seven years ago to great fanfare and featured food from Macau, where the wife was born. They even won a James Beard award. I was immediately interested because food from Macau is not something you find every day. They were always booked out and it took months for us to finally get a table at five oclock on a Tuesday afternoon. Strangely, all the waiters were wearing black T-shirts with the words Dont believe the hype printed on them. Our waiter explained that the Chicago Tribune food critic gave them a lukewarm review so the owners made all the staff wear shirts with the above quote from the review. (Interestingly, Macaus national dish is African chicken, a stewy chicken dish.)

Seemed a little arrogant but hey, what do I know. I ordered the chicken peri-peri because that was just before Nandos hit Chicago and you couldnt find peri-peri anywhere. Most Americans had no clue what it was, including Fat Rice, it turned out. When it arrived I thought perhaps he got the order wrong, because it looked like a stew. Like chicken curry in fact. But the waiter assured me that the stuff in front of me was indeed peri-peri and that the chefs should know because one of them was from Macau. I pointed out that peri-peri originated in Portuguese east Africa, not Macau and that I have actually eaten it in Mozambique and it certainly did not look like this. Also it didnt taste anything like peri-peri. I mentioned that I probably should have heeded the advice printed on his T-shirt. Needless to say, we never went back.

It always amazes me how the masses can be wrong about food. Part of the problem is of course living in the age of Yelp and Zagat where everybody is a critic. Only a few cities have managed to sustain daily newspapers with professional food critics so, in 90% of the US, food mayhem reigns. Basically in Fat Rices case, the professional food critic was right and everybody else was wrong. A good rule of thumb when dining out in the US is dont follow the crowds. Of course, the point is moot now.

But to get back to my little bout of schadenfreude. A few weeks ago the Black Lives Matter protests broke out and Fat Rice changed their website to address human dignity and the plight of black people and how their hearts were bleeding and how their restaurants philosophy has always been to serve and uplift the community etc etc. There was an immediate backlash from all their ex employees and it turned out that the two owners were actually two-faced jerks with a history of workplace abuse and making derogatory statements about people of colour, even throwing plates at them in front of a packed restaurant. The blowback got so raucous that it eventually got a front page in the New York Times food section and last week Fat Rice closed down for good.

I know its unseemly to kick the restaurant industry when theyre down but this just reminded me of another case of the munching masses being utterly bonkers. The culprit happens to be a restaurant next door to me called Buona Terra. Actually it is so next to me that I can see it from my back porch. When people hear we live in Logan Square they alway say how lucky we are because we live near their favourite restaurant, Buona Terra. Who thought deconstructed Italian fare could be so popular. In their case the deconstruction is not happening, not because theyre fancy-ass tattooed chefs with shaved heads but because they are just plain clueless and cant cook.

If an Italian restaurant cant do a basic pasta with tomato sauce they shouldnt be in business. The key of course is a long gentle simmer to caramelise the tomatoes and bring out their sweetness. It is so simple, but there should be harmony between the ingredients. What you dont want is a mess of undercooked tomato chunks, half raw onions and chunks of garlic sticking between your teeth. I think they try to emphasise the freshness of the ingredients, but why not then just do a bloody salad? A well made tomato sauce tastes perfectly fresh when served over pasta with a good glug of olive oil. It doesnt need to be half raw.

I suffered from garlic breath for at least a week after that infernal meal. Even trying the trusted old remedy of gargling with vodka didnt help. (Most breath fresheners contain alcohol so if you cut straight to the vodka part you get more bang for your buck.) And trust me, I gargled my way through a few bottles. Actually the pasta they served with the sauce was so al dente that you could snap them like twigs and I probably could have used one of the pasta splinters to pick the garlic from my teeth. I like al dente pasta but this stuff was a joke. Add undercooked tomatoes, onions and garlic and you get the picture. Oh, and did I mention no salt? I felt like sneaking over there in the middle of the night and nailing a copy of Marcella Hazans recipe for Sugo Fresco di Pomodoro to their door. And they are always booked out. Yelp strikes again! So much peril just within a few blocks of my house.

It may not seem like it but I do like eating out and I miss going to restaurants. And I do hope most of them survive. Who knows, maybe during this down time some of the hot young chefs could even have some tattoos removed. Maybe everybody will have forgotten about the whole tasting menu and small plate craze. Or the whole sharing thing. I go to restaurants to share in the atmosphere, to share companionship, conversation and laughter, not my food. My heart always used to sink when a waiter beamed at us and announced that the chefs philosophy was to encourage people to share. Like it was some sort of spiritual experience. And my sinking dark heart would murmur, tough, buddy, but I aint sharing none of my food with nobody.

Ordering shared plates for a table makes for a really awkward situation. Especially when the diners dont know each other very well. First, vegans and gluten free people need to be taken into account. Then the carnivore gluttons get all coy because they dont want to reveal their true natures and cause offence to the food sensitive ones. Its like workshopping a play, a practice Ive never believed in. You always end up with something half baked or an undercooked sauce with not enough salt. Finally, after an agonising period of compromising and polite but desperate strategic manoeuvring and endless smiling and nodding, the food arrives, by which time Im so starved that I just want to load my plate and stuff my mouth. (When Americans feel awkward they tend to nod a lot.) But no, I have to play along and pretend that the whole ritual is really fun. And then of course there is the matter of who gets the last lonely little morsel sitting there in the middle of the table. More often than not it ends up going back to the kitchen followed by my hungry eyes because everybody is too self-conscious to just grab it. Painful, and not why I go to restaurants. I go to restaurants to relax, talk a lot and drink a lot, not to relive something resembling my first date.

Up there with the sharing thing is when the server asks whether weve dined in the restaurant before. Ive gotten wise to that one because if you stupidly answer in the negative, prepare yourself for a lecture about how to read the menu and oh how lucky you are to share in the chefs enlightenment after discovering their true tattooed inner souls during their farm to table journey. Like Paul falling off his donkey on the road to Damascus. Before you know it they start naming all the goats the enlightened owners milked that very morning, just for you! The religious experience of picking organic heirloom tomatoes on a small farm. Its like theyre trying to set you up for a guilt-trip in case you dont like the food.

Whats with all this philosophy in the kitchen anyway. When did that sneak in? I dont want to go on a spiritual journey when I go to a restaurant. I want to eat. Cooking and serving a good meal is not enough any more. Its like some chefs feel the need to release their inner Gwyneth Paltrow and turn something you thought was just dinner into a deeper and more meaningful event. Blame it on the Pilgrims but Americans certainly have a streak of missionary zeal in them. Shut up and cook. A plate of good food will do me just fine.

I really do like restaurants. Really. And its not just about the food. Its about the buzz as well. Of course, bad food or service can be a real buzz killer but the food is just one part of the big picture. Its about being part of the world, part of a bustling city. Only now that theyre gone do I realise what an integral part of city life restaurants are. Dining with friends, surrounded by strangers, eavesdropping on conversations, soothed by the sounds of clattering plates and clinking glasses, one gets lulled into feeling all is okay with the world. I dont even need to dine. Just strolling by all the bustling neighbourhood restaurants gives me a feeling of contentment. I even miss crossing the street to avoid seeing the suckers dining at Buona Terra. I miss them all and hope they all survive these terrible times. Bon Appetit. And dont forget the salt. DM/TGIFood

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Where chefs release their inner Gwyneth Paltrow and peri-peri is from Macau - Daily Maverick

"Two of them jumped me from behind and knocked me to the ground. I tussled with the two and another one joined in, then two more. The five were able to easily overwhelm me and got me to the ground and dragged me, pinning my body against a tree as they began pounding on my head, ripping off some of my hair, with several of them still on top of my body holding me down," Vauhxx recalled.

"They held me pinned and continued beating me for several minutes seeminglybecome more and more enraged. Atone point during the attack one of the men jumped on my neck," he added.

As the assault continued, a crowd grew, and many tried to intervene. Video footage of the encounter shows Vauhxx on all fours, being pinned against a tree.

WARNING: The below video is distressing. View with caution.

The attackers told the growing group, were going to break his arms (while literally attempting to bend my arms behind me) and then stated to the members of their party several times to get a noose, amongst some other choice slurs," continued Vauhxx, in his 1200 word recounting of the alleged hate crime.

"With me still pinned underneath them, they kept telling onlookers to leave the 'boy' and that everyone else (all white) could go. Folks then started filming the confrontation, and shouting that they wouldnt leave me to be killed," he wrote.

Eventually, the growing group of onlookers got the attackers off, and someone called 911.

When the Indiana Department of Natural Resources arrived, they approached the attackers first. When they finally made their way back to Vauhxx and his friends, the groupwere armed with multiple videos all of which included both physical and verbal threats on Vauhxx's life. Multiple witnesses corroborated their story, sharing their own vision of the terrifying event.

Vauhxx stood in front of them, covered in abrasions, bruising and ripped out hair patches. He also suffered a concussion as a result of the attack.

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On July 4, Vauhxx Booker went to the lake with friends. Five white men held him down and yelled get a noose". - Mamamia

Alisa Childers is a singer, author and podcaster who is clearly extraordinarily intelligent and perceptive.

Yet, she is also a devout Christian who very nearly left the faith altogether due to fundamental rational doubts but ultimately found her way back by re-embracing reconstructing, in regressive Christian parlance the airy, subjective justifications of supernatural faith she originally held dear.

She did this by effectively ignoring all the excellent objective questions against her faith and focusing instead on the sacredness of historical Christianity and the saving qualities of spiritual grace, and other elements of that self-justifying, excuse-offering branch of Christian theology known as apologetics, or scholasticism.

I had never heard of Childers before the other day, but I was fascinated (in disturbing ways) while watching a nearly 52-minute interview with her conducted by host Cameron Bertuzzi of YouTubes Capturing Christianity site, whose tag line is, BTW, Christianity is true.

From there, I watched on Childerswebsite the 5-minute explanatory video My Story about her authentic Christian fundamentalist upbringing, her budding doubt, semi-deconstruction and then final, reconstructive return to faith.

I also watched her disarmingly interesting 54-minute interview with fellow deconstructed/reconstructed apologist Ian Harbor, in which he encapsulated his long journey away from and back to historical Christianity ostensibly the original faith as a necessary mental exercise of just choosing to believe what the Bible says is absolutely true, doubt aside.

From this interview, I chose to read Harbors article in TGC (The Gospel Coalition), an online Christian media site. This is his disappointing (to rationalists) conclusion in the piece:

There are more paths than ever before in todays worldmore options for spiritual enlightenment or curate-your-own-beliefs faith. But no path leads to true happiness and everlasting life except the Jesus alone path (John 14:6), which is narrower than we might like (Matt. 7:13) but more satisfying than we can imagine (Ps. 16:11).

In my journey I discovered, with Peter, thatGods divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence(2 Peter 1:3). In Christ, we have everything we need. Why leave the boundaries of faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) in order to find life? Jesus has the words of life.Heislife. Truth. The way.Where else would we go?

Harbor wrote of arrive at his post-doubt final destination, which wasexactly the same place he started out in faith:

Ive walked in both shoes: the shoes of those who deserted (the faith) and the shoes of (Saint) Peter who couldnt leave, no matter how hard it seemed to stay.

He chose the latter.

I keep reading about devout Christians whose theological questions become so grave that they seriously doubt the core tenets of their faith, yet they still find it impossible to ultimately abandon Christianity. Youd think it wouldnt disturb me anymore, as often as it happens, considering many, many ex-Christians have been able to break free of the chains of dogma and supernatural belief. But it does, because its a willful, self-deceiving capitulation to irrationality, trading fantasy for the necessities of fact.

But surveys consistently tell us that, up to now, the majority of Americans view themselves a God-believing Christians. So, we need to try to understand this strange phenomenon of seemingly groundless faith in omnipotent deities that permanently resists verification.

If you want to better understand this clinging-to-faith tendency, I strongly urge you to watch some or all of these videos, and Ian Harbors well-written if dubiously reasoned article, all linked above.

Whats frightening to me is that Childers and Harbor both obviously very intelligent, thoughtful and articulate spokespeople for their faith have chosen to simply ignore objective reality so they dont have to throw out the baby Jesus of their beliefs with the dirty bathwater doubt leaves behind.

Its fundamentally disingenuous, but Im sure it doesnt feel that way to them, because they truly believe.

Videos/YouTube/Alisachilders.com

Buy either book on Amazon, here (paperback or ebook editions)

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Why are so many doubters unable to leave faith? Watch and read. - Patheos

Bollywood stars including Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Randeep Hooda on Sunday paid tribute to teachers, on the occasion of Guru Purnima.

The 'Panipat' star put out a heart-warming post on Twitter featuring a monochromatic throwback picture of parents Sunil and Nargis Dutt as he remembered them as his gurus (teachers). In the picture, Sanjay is seen standing next to his father while the latter smiles. The frame also captures 'Mother India' star Nargis who is seen embracing her beaming smile.

Along with the picture, the 'Agneepath' star shared an emotional note, and noted, "Even though my parents are not here with me today, but their blessings and teachings will always remain with me. They have been my very first teachers, guiding my every step in life. #HappyGuruPurnima to all." (with a folded hands emoji)

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On Guru Purnima, Shilpa Shetty, Sanjay Dutt and other Bollywood stars pay tribute to their teachers - Free Press Journal