Category Archives: Immortality

The Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, near Londons Sloane Square, is on its third stop on a 10-country tour. Its the last time these items will leave Egypt, and in some cases the first.

The familiar face and figure on all the posters is not Tutankhamuns famous death mask, which is too delicate to travel, but a 15-inch canopic coffinette that once held his liver. The closest we get to seeing the splendour of his coffin is various pieces of jewellery laid on a full-sized model of his mummy case.

Quotations from the Egyptian Book of the Dead feature throughout the exhibition, which focuses on the meaning of the boy-kings burial items, and on their significance in his journey into immortality. Tutankhamun was only nine when he came to the throne, and one of the most touching exhibits is his child-sized armchair.

The 150 exhibits are labelled well, giving both specific descriptions of each item and background information. What is most astonishing is their beauty, their bright colours, their perfection their freshness. Its almost impossible to believe that these artefacts are 3,300 years old.

The exhibition itself is well designed; its presentation at the Saatchi Gallery far less so. (As the Saatchi specialises in works by living artists, one wonders why it is hosting it.) The rooms arent connected, and are on three floors. The carefully planned transition of projected sound and vision from one room to the next the promised immersive journey just doesnt work when you have to go out to a corridor or up stairs to the next room. The piped New Age muzak in most rooms adds nothing to the experience.

The last and largest piece, which is given a room all to itself, is a quartzite statue of Tutankhamun; projected on the wall is the text Speak the name of the dead and you make them live again, implying that archaeologist Howard Carters discovery, and this exhibition itself, are granting the young king the eternal life he so desired.

I found it an enjoyable exhibition, with three caveats. First, the Saatchi Gallery has a confusing layout, and there is little indication of how to get from one room to the next not helpful to visitors.

Secondly, museum gift shops are always overpriced, but this one takes it to extremes: 10 for a small flask of Egyptian sand, 16 for a small scarab beetle and an exacting 50 for the exhibition book. This is on top of the widely criticised minimum entry price of 24.50 or an exorbitant 100 for a family of three at peak periods (including weekends).

The profits will help pay for the eventual home of these exhibits (and many more) in the Grand Egyptian Museum, opening next year in Cairo.

Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh is at the Saatchi Gallery, London, until May 3, 2020

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An Egyptian extravaganza that costs an arm and a leg - Catholic Herald Online

Pen of the Year 2020: Sparta.

Graf von Faber-Castell has been offering its annual Pen of the Year since 2003, and each year it has revealed yet another beautiful pen of historical significance. The 2020 collection is making an early debut and like its predecessors, this years editionSpartawill give you a new appreciation for pens and the stories they tell.

The myth of Sparta and its heroes come alive in this limited edition writing instrument, and the design and workmanship is based on the armor and weapons of the Greek heroes. For example, the ruthenium-plated, sandblasted matte barrel is reminiscent of the Spartans steel battle dress. The pens milled decoration pays homage to the striped protective armor worn, and its grip evokes the form of the breastplate. Inspired by the rivets reinforcing the ancient armor, there are seven hand-applied rough diamonds totaling up to 0.35 carats adorning the body.

Both the end piece and the cap of the Pen of the Year 2020 are polished to a high gloss. The spring-loaded clip is based on a Greek warriors helmet. The pen also immortalizes the Lambda symbol from the Greek alphabet, once emblazoned on the defensive shields of the Lacedaemonians. It is featured as a lacquered inlay on the end of the writing implement and is joined by another historical Greek decoration, the meander, which symbolizes immortality.

Pen of the Year 2020, Black Edition

In the Sparta Black Edition, the legendary strength of the Greek heroes is symbolized in an interplay between the dark color of the pen and the stones decorating it. The anthracite-colored, milled metal barrel with PVD coating is adorned with 42 rough diamonds totaling up to 2.1 carats, in seven rows of six, which are again reminiscent of the rivets on the protective armor of the Spartans.

The Sparta fountain pens feature an 18-karat ruthenium-plated gold nib in fine, medium, broad and double broad sizes; there is also a rollerball in each version available.

Each writing implement comes in a high-gloss, black wooden case, accompanied by a certificate signed by Count Charles von Faber-Castell confirming the authenticity of the limited edition.

Earlier Models

The Pen of the Year 2019, the Samurai, is an homage to the warriors who were considered military nobility in medieval and early-modern Japan. The Samurai is distinguished by its dark barrel made of stained and polished magnolia woodembellished with Japanese characters, worked by hand in 24-karat gold. Quoting the samurai warrior and philosopherMiyamoto Musashi,it reads: Today I win against myself of yesterday.

The Pen of the Year 2018, the Imperium Romanum, is made from statuario marble, and its cap features an engraving of he Colosseum. The pen is crowned by a miniature Roman coin modeled on a very rare silver coin from 44 BC depicting Caesars head.

ThePen of the Year 2017is an ode to the Vikings, with a platinum-plated barrel inspired by the graceful curves of the Viking longboats. Slivers of curly birch wood are integrated into the design of the fountain pen and rollerball in a nod to the wood used in Norse boat making.

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Pen Of The Year By Graf Von Faber-Castell: New For 2020 - Forbes

Rick and Mortyhas a slavishly devoted fan base. The show has struck a chord with viewers with its intelligent blend of humor, sci-fi absurdity, and darkness.

When season 3 ended in October of 2017 the fans didnt realize how long it would take for season 4 to hit the airwaves. But after a two-year wait, season 4 has finally arrived and there was much rejoicing among the viewers.

Now, naturally, fans are curious and worried about season 5.First and foremost: Will there be a season 5 of Rick and Morty? And, if so, will the wait be as excruciatingly long as it was from season 4? Heres what we know aboutRick and Mortyseason 5 and beyond.

Months after the end of season 3 it became clear that Adult Swim hadnt ordered another season of the show. Fans were shocked: Did this mean it was possible that the show was ending? Why werent the creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon slaving away on new episodes?

Finally, in May of 2018, Adult Swim announced thatRick and Morty had been renewed. Not for a single season, but for 70 more episodes!

It turns out that Roiland and Harmon wanted to be paid more and a guarantee that the show would continue. They claimed that they asked for immortality forRick and Morty, but that they would settle for many, many more seasons.

Since most seasons have been 10 episodes long, that suggests that fans can happily expect 7 more seasons, for a total of 10. Not immortality, but good enough for now.

No one really knows exactly when season 5 will be released, but the wait isnot going to be as agonizing. Roiland has assured fans that theyre already starting work on it.

In a recent interview withEntertainment Weekly,Harmon said: I think its safe to say without fear of being wrong that the gap between seasons 3 and 4 will be the longest and last time that its ever so long that its ridiculous.

People are trying to guess when the start date will be, and the best guess is November of 2020. Whenever the date is, fans are happy to know it wont take two years to get here.

Harmon and Roiland arent the only ones who have a new sense of security with the 70 episode order. Fans can now rest easy knowing that negotiations shouldnt slow things down again.

Theres not much information about whats up for the next season, but Harmon and Roiland have repeatedly said theyd love to work with Kanye West. Theyve even offered him complete creative control over an episode.

West has said publicly that he loves the show, so its a strong possibility that some sort of collaboration will happen. He even met with theRick and Mortyteam back in August.

Apparently his devotion to the show is one thing that isnt affected by his newfound faith.

Since they know it wont be the end, fans can relax and enjoy season 4. Theres an evil Morty theory that may drive you to rewatch the premiere episode a few times. The expected guest stars includeTaika Waititi, Sam Neill,Paul Giamatti, Kathleen Turner, and Matthew Broderick.

Whatever happens, we can all be sure it will be funny, smart, and completely unique, and fans can bask in the knowledge that the magic isnt going to end any time soon.

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'Rick and Morty' Season 5: Will The Show Have Another Season? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And dont be ashamed of me, either, even though Im in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time to show us his grace through Jesus Christ. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death; and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:5-11 (NLT)

At the time of Timothys ordination, he had received special gifts of the Holy Spirit to enable him to serve the church {see 1 Timothy 4:14}. He didnt need a new gifting. He needed to persevere, in courage and self-discipline to hang onto the truth and to use them, thereby fanning into flames the spiritual gift God had given him. If Timothy would step out boldly in faith and proclaim the Good News once again, the Holy Spirit would go with him and give him the power he needed.

When we utilize the gifting God has given us, we will find that God gives us the power needed to accomplish whatever task He has given usGod has given all Christians gifts to use in building up the body of ChristWhen we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for God. Paul promises Timothy and us, that God would give the needed strength and courage. Dont ever be ashamed to testify of our personal faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus already broke the power of death with His love and resurrection. What we must do is believe in Him and accept His offer of love and life eternal.

Paul also affirmed his confidence in Gods protection. This was not a claim to strong faith; rather, it was of a love and trust in one so powerful that even a weak faith was sufficient. (From the NLT Study Bible.)

The Old Testament is also a picture of reality in the New. Arent you glad for mothers and grandmothers in church? I pray that they stir something up in me. Lets look at 2 Kings 4:38-41 (KJV).

Remember what its like to set up a big, seasoned cast-iron pot of chili beans? Beans, and if it goes, peas, corn, cucumbers? A person must stand over and stir it up or it will be burnt on the bottom and grease will form on the top. Dont settle for a little almost healed, a little bit of healing. Food reminds us of mothers and grandmothers who blessed us with food and love.

When was the last time God delivered you? The Word in us is stirred and we are blessed in the country I live to brush my teeth, but if I dont do it, no one will sit next to me. It can mean a sacrifice. Stir yourself up by prayer and fasting, going to church.

Football pros have pep talks because they dont want to get pummeledBaseball, too. Get up and go to churchtheres blessing. The enemy is wanting to pummel yousometimes every dayneed a day off? Verse 6 gives us the answera gift.

Bring it and give it. Dont get excitedit will happen before you know it. There will be joy, hope, trust that comes with the gifts. There are nine giftsthe Fruit of the Spirit are available. Stir up that Lovestir up the Peace that is on the inside.

Struggle stirs something up in you. Let God bless you because He has called us. A Holy Calling, Jesus says just stir it up on purpose and in Grace. Dont forget to carry your stirring-spoon with you.

The Faith Commentary is currently provided by Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church, P.O. Box 363, Cherokee, N.C. 28719 (Reverend Timothy L. Melton, Pastor of the church). All organized houses of worship are welcome to submit commentary for this column. Portions of this commentary were transcribed by Myra Colgate from a sermon by Pastor Melton.

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SPEAKING OF FAITH: Remembering helps to maintain our confidence - The Cherokee One Feather - Cherokee One Feather

DES MOINES Mark Cady was described as a man who was endlessly kind and devoted his life to the law and justice, a capable public speaker and advocate who was disarming with a wonderful sense of humor.

A former colleague described how it was pure chance that Cady came to write the history-making Iowa Supreme Court decision for which he will long be remembered.

Chief Justice Cady died Friday of a heart attack. He was 66.

Cady was honored Wednesday with a public celebration of life at Drake University, from which he earned his bachelors and law degrees. An estimated 1,500 people attended the event, a Drake official said.

What words shared over a period of a few minutes can possibly capture the essence of a life so rich with purpose, meaning, accomplishment and impact, said Mark Brownlee, a longtime friend of Cadys.

The Rev. Dr. David Ruhe said Cadys passing was dumbfounding to us all.

Nathan Hecht, the Texas Supreme Court chief justice who will succeed Cady as president of the national Conference of Chief Justices, said the outpouring in the wake of Cadys death has come from all corners of the country.

Warm, caring, dedicated to improving justice, with a wonderful sense of humor, a great role model, Hecht said. All these words in testament to Mark Cady, like an artists strokes on an enormous canvas, paint a portrait of Chief Justice Cady: soft spoken but strong, smiling but serious about his work, learned but laughing ... distinguished, exceptional, respected and humble, most of all beloved. ...

Iowa has lost an extraordinary judge and statesman. You know that well. I can tell you this: so has the country.

Marsha Ternus, who preceded Cady as chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, described Cady as quite simply the nicest guy you could ever hope to meet.

She also revealed how Cady came to write the decision for which he will most be remembered: the Iowa high courts 2009 unanimous decision that legalized same-sex marriage.

Ternus said the justices drew case assignments randomly from a bag, and Cady drew Varnum v. Brien.

Iowa was fortunate that he drew that case, said Ternus, who was chief justice at the time. Mark drafted a principled decision based on legal concepts long applied by Iowa courts. He wrote eloquently, putting our decision in the context of Iowas rich history of upholding Iowans civil rights. And ever aware that courts are here for the people, Mark made a considerable effort to write the courts opinion in a manner that could be readily understood, not only by lawyers familiar with legal terminology, but by all Iowans.

Ternus and two other justices lost their seats on the court after conservative groups mobilized to oppose them in the states 2010 retention elections in protest of the courts decision.

Cady succeeded Ternus as chief justice.

It was a wonderful moment for Mark. I know, though, that his achievement was bittersweet for him because he mourned the loss of his three colleagues, Ternus said. That was Mark. He was one of the most empathetic persons I have ever known.

The Des Moines Gay Mens Chorus sang opening and closing songs at Wednesdays ceremony: America the Beautiful and Let There Be Peace on Earth.

Brownlee closed his remarks with a tribute to Cadys legal career.

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I choose to think of this proceeding as Marks final investiture: an investiture into Iowa judicial immortality, Brownlee said. With that Mr. Chief Justice, I rest. So shall you, my great friend.

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Iowa Chief Justice Mark Cady remembered as kind, devoted to justice - The Gazette

Ver LumodNovember 22, 2019

Doctor Sleep is a bracingly contemplative horror film that manages to make its case for being a worthy sequel to both Stephen King and Stanley Kubricks The Shining.

The film focuses on Dan Torrance, played by Ewan McGregor, as he eventually overcomes his trauma from the horrific ordeal he had endured at the Overlook Hotel as a child. He now works in a hospice in New Hampshire, where he comforts its dying patients with his shine abilities that earn him his titular nickname. Danny later comes into contact with Abra, played by Kyliegh Curran, a teenage girl who has more powerful shine than his. She enlists his help in defeating the True Knot, a predatory, quasi-vampiric cult led by Rebecca Fergusons merciless Rose the Hat who brutally feed off psychic kids who also possess shine abilities for their immortality. It then becomes a cross-country trek to supernatural danger and possible redemption on behalf of Danny, as the three brace toward an inevitable showdown.

McGregor earns his spurs as the main character, played by Danny Lloyd in Kubricks film (and who has a cameo as a chatty spectator in a baseball game). He manageably makes sense of his portrayal as a despairing alcoholic who eventually overcomes his addiction, which is one of many characteristics of director Mike Flanagan that makes Doctor Sleep steer away from Kubricks detached tone in The Shining. Currans command of her character is impressive for her first film role, as she straddles the path between scared victim and confident badass. But it is Ferguson that shines the most, as her villain comes off as terrifying while at the same time fascinating.

At first glance, Doctor Sleep feels like an episode of Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, also directed by Flanagan. People who loved Kubricks coldly atmospheric adaptation of The Shining may find themselves disappointed in this film. But for the open-minded cinephiles, it is actually a refreshing case study for how Flanagan delivers when not relying too much on what made The Shining iconic across horror film circles. There is always an eerie air hazed with visually muted color palettes floating throughout the film. There are some disturbing scenes that will test the uninitiated viewers endurance for nightmares. Nevertheless, Flanagans penchant for uneasy optimism, which happens to share Kings vision for the source material, makes Doctor Sleep stand out on its own.

For most of the film, that is. A sequel to a landmark horror film such as The Shining inevitably has to check that mark of consideration. Slight spoilers aside, Doctor Sleep returns to the Overlook Hotel in what may be a potentially divisive final act. Some may find it playfully nostalgic, while others may find it bordering on sacrilege. What is unmistakable, though, is that the film at this point struggles to live up to the imposing monolith that is The Shining, even if the painstaking recreation of the iconic hotel is downright impressive by Kubrickian standards. Still, Flanagan pulls off some smart tricks that only just redeem Doctor Sleep by the time the credits roll.

While the films runtime might make it seem a bit of a drag even by the standards set forth by the equally long The Shining, it still possesses a hauntingly potent quality that is worth checking in for. Flanagan makes King and Kubricks conflicting legacies work quite well by adding his signature touch. The resulting imperfect hybrid shows Flanagans talents as a hopeful and compelling filmmaker. Moreover, Doctor Sleep delivers as a doable treatise on how people wracked with PTSD caused by all forms can still shine on in the end.

Design by Ariel Landry. Photo credit: Ariel Landry

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Doctor Sleep shines on introspection and nostalgia - Maroon

Since 1981, Indiana Jones has been a popular, cultural figure. From having the smug, likable Harrison Ford bring him to life, to have his own ride at Disneyland, it's no wonder many consider the world's best archeologist a real hero and a national treasure.

Although we might not like to hear it, the unfortunate truth is thatIndiana Jones exaggerates the archeologist's profession and often times his adventures are highly illogical. From watching God melt a Nazi's face, to finding the fountain of immortality, all the way to discovering the existence of alien life, here are 10 memes that make Indiana Jones logic highly laughable.

RELATED:10 Most Memorable Quotes From The Indiana Jones Movies

Henry Jones taught Indy everything he knows, including the mastery of over 27 languages. So that probably makes traveling around the country to outrun Nazis an easy task, right? Well according to some vigilant fans that are not the case as we can see in the picture.

Holding his newspaper upside down would probably be a dead giveaway that Jones and his crew are probably not German and most likely three guys on the run. That or reading newspapers upside down is a normal thing in Germany. Good thing Indy is a master at improvising. Otherwise, not a very subtle move Henry Jones.

Being a world-renowned archeologist means Indy is no stranger to brushes with death. In fact, in every movie, Indy is being shot at, punched, and nearly thrown off a cliff, so it's safe to safe to sayhe's pretty quick at thinking on his feet. In fact, it's his quick thinking that saves him from an incoming nuke when he decides his best chance at survival is stuffing himself in a fridge.

Lucky for us, it does just the trick and keeps our favorite history professor out of harms away and radioactive free. He would not recommend you try at home, Dr.Jones is very clearly a professional.

When it comes to rare and ancient artifacts, we all knowthat travel is a must. For Indy, throughout the four movies seemed to be going everywhere around the world, seeing Nazis, British Raj, British Egyptians, and even the Hatay Army.

Luckily for him, the armies got easier as the movies went along because he would've been in big trouble taking on entire armies with nothing but his trusty whip. The logic behind this is hilarious because and the grave robber would've easily been taken out but the armies might have been too soft for him. Keep doing you Indy.

It's funny that throughout his time exploring Indy is considered one of the best archeologists in the world, gaining notoriety. But do we ever actually see him do any? We see him as a history professor, an adventurer, a lover, even a Nazi when he disguised himself, but never actually doing his profession.

Most of the time the treasure falls on his lap or he almost always has some form of help that helps do the minimum work. Not to take away from his knowledge, but we just don't see much of that in the movies. So if he's not an archeologist, what do we call him?

RELATED: 10 Things From The Indiana Jones Franchise That Haven't Aged Well

Being an epic adventurer leaves little time for grading papers or having office hours, so when the 100 students want to talk about the upcoming finals what better way to respond then by just heading out the window.

A move professors probably wouldn't recommend, it's safe to say Indy probably isn't the best professor, given hemost likely misses half the year finding the Lost Ark or a Crystal Skull.Add the fact he's not the most supportive authority figure(see Short Round and Mutt), it's no wonder he chooses to run away rather than face his students. Good luck in History kids.

Being a grave robber, there isn't much Indy hasn't seen, so it's safe to say he's not afraid of much. At least that's what you would think. Indy has seen faces melt, men literally rip hearts out, even seen a man turn into dust and he still manages to dust himself off.

One thing he will absolutely not do is deal with snakes. A long-running joke in the movies, Indy has a crippling fear of the snake, something he wouldn't even touch to save his life. He would definitely not mind if all the snakes in the world would just disappear, something that wouldn't be too far of a stretch in the Indyverse.

In many Spielberg and George Lucas films, there is always some subtle hint that points to something that will happen later in the movie and this meme talk about just that.

For those familiar with The Last Crusade,we know the premise of the movie has to do with God's real name being Jehovah and a puzzle that Indy has to solve to get to the goblet of immortality. In the scene, he forgets the Latin "J" is actually an "I" and almost falls to his death. It was a funny and interesting way of foreshadowing.

RELATED:Indiana Jones: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Last Crusade

As mentioned before, Indy is good at thinking on his feet, quite literally. So when anything goes south, it's easy to bet onDr.Jones to get you out of any pickle. inTemple of Doom,when Indy Short Round and Willie ran off in a train car, they soon found out that the brakes were faulty and they were sure to meet their death.

Indy thought quickly and jumped in front of the train car, attempting to stop it. In an act that probably would've killed most, Indy is left with a bad case of Athletes foot and not much else.

When you're on your way to discovering an artifact that has been lost for 1000s of years, you have little time to brawl. As impressive as his moves are, Jones just takes his gun and with one shot ends it all. Not that Indy doesn't know his way in a fight, he often goes the easy way to concentrate on what really matters. In this case, a guy with swords is less important than the Lost Ark of the Covenant.

In typical fashion, he just shoots the would-be threat, ending any type of conflict then and there. Poor Sword guy.

RELATED:Indiana Jones: 10 Things You Probably Didnt Know About The Temple Of Doom

Short Round made his way into our hearts inTemple of Doom as Indy's trusty and loyal sidekick. As the Robin to Indy's Batman, he actually tried to steal from Indy before befriending and taking him in.

Although Indy isn't the perfect father figure, he still cares for and treats Short Round with some respect. So when Willie accidentally called Indy "Jones" instead of his rightful "Dr.Jones", Shorty made sure she never made that mistake again. As a loyal sidekick, it's nice to see where Shorty sets his priorities and how much he respects the caretaker that took him off the streets.

NEXT:Indiana Jones: 10 Things You Probably Didnt Know About The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

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10 Indiana Jones Logic Memes That Are Too Funny For Words - Screen Rant

In a recent experiment, American participants were asked: Please describe the emotions that the thought of your own death arouses in you and Write down as specifically as you can what you think will happen to you physically as you die and once you are dead. Moments later, those who had been asked to contemplate their mortality reported more negative attitudes towards immigrants, greater opposition to a mosque being built in their neighbourhood, and a greater likelihood of voting for Donald Trump for president.

What could possibly explain these findings?

In The Denial of Death (1973), cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker argued that while humans share a basic biological predisposition towards self-preservation with all life forms, we are unique in our capacity for symbolic thought, including self-awareness. This gives rise to the unsettling realisation that death is inevitable, can occur at any time, and that we are ultimately no more significant or enduring than turtles or turnips.

The unvarnished awareness of death engenders potentially debilitating existential terror, which humans manage by embracing cultural worldviews for example, a religious identity such as Christianity, or a national identity such as Englishness. These worldviews confer a sense that one is a person of value in a world of meaning, and hence eligible for immortality (either literally, through the heavens, afterlives and souls central to most religions; or symbolically, by being a member of a great and enduring tribe or nation, having children, amassing great fortunes or producing noteworthy works of art or science). People are therefore highly motivated to maintain faith in their cultural worldviews as a psychological bulwark against existential dread.

Becker then argued that because cultural worldviews are essentially symbolic, they can never completely overcome the terror of death. There is always residual death anxiety, a rumble of panic underneath everything. This free-floating panic settles on to those we regard as different to ourselves, as possible threats. Having assumed material form, this fear can at least be managed: in our minds these people become repositories of evil. They are then denigrated, demonised, dehumanised and, in some cases, destroyed.

Immigrants, including those who practise different religions, such as Muslims and Jews, have historically served as these scapegoats, as living embodiments of our existential dread.

Experiments carried out under the rubric of terror management theory the framework I and my fellow researchers used for understanding these behaviours corroborate Beckers account. They illuminate the existential underpinnings of hostility and disdain toward designated outgroups. After being reminded of their mortality (by answering the questions above, being interviewed in front of a funeral parlour, or subliminally exposed to the word death), Christians had more favourable impressions of other Christians and more negative impressions of Jews; Germans sat closer to Germans and further away from Turkish immigrants; Iranians were more supportive of suicide bombings; and Americans advocated using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons against countries that posed no direct threat to the US.

After being reminded of their mortality Christians had more favourable impressions of other Christians and more negative impressions of Jews

But how can these ideas help explain why death reminders increase support for Trump? The German sociologist Max Weber theorised that in times of historical upheaval, when existential anxieties are salient, people embrace charismatic political leaders. In 1951, moral philosopher Eric Hoffer, in The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, added that the primary impetus for populist movements is economic and psychological insecurity, leaving people in desperate need of something to live for.

Authoritarian populist leaders, Hoffer argued, need not be intelligent or original. Rather, the primary qualifications seem to be: audacity and a joy in defiance; an iron will; a fanatical conviction that he is in possession of the one and only truth; faith in his destiny and luck; a capacity for passionate hatred; contempt for the present; a cunning estimate of human nature; a delight in symbols (spectacles and ceremonials) the arrogant gesture, the complete disregard of the opinion of others, the singlehanded defiance of the world [and] some deliberate misrepresentation of facts.

They transform followers fears into rage and righteous indignation directed toward designated outgroups for political purposes. For example, Trump campaigned for president by inflaming animosity towards Mexicans and Muslims. After the 2016 election, Trump admitted in calls to then Mexican president Enrique Pea Nieto that Mexico needed to pay for the wall to fulfil his campaign promise, and to Malcolm Turnbull, then prime minister of Australia, that he would look foolish if he honoured a previous agreement to allow refugees to come to the US.

Studies confirm that mortal terror amplifies support for Trump. Prior to the election, participants reminded of being in pain had more favourable impressions of Hillary Clinton than Trump. However, impressions of Trump improved significantly if participants were reminded of their mortality. Moreover, Americans asked to think about the construction of a mosque in their neighbourhoods, or immigrants moving nearby, showed higher levels of nonconscious death thoughts thus demonstrating that persistent efforts to demonise Muslims and immigrants had been quite successful. Americans also rated Trump more favourably after being asked to imagine a mosque or immigrants in their neighbourhoods.

People do not respond monolithically when existential concerns are aroused. For example, in response to a death reminder, French and US participants who scored high in rightwing authoritarianism characterised by submission to authority, moral absolutism, and punitive intolerance made more pejorative assessments of immigrants. However, participants who scored low on rightwing authoritarianism had more favourable impressions of immigrants after pondering their demise. Additionally, negative reactions to immigrants following death reminders were reduced when participants were also encouraged to think of universal human experiences shared by people from diverse cultures.

These findings suggest the hopeful possibility that we can encourage the development and maintenance of cultural worldviews that emphasise commonalities rather than differences between individuals and foster tolerance of such differences.

It is also important to acknowledge that support for Trump in the US, and similarly rightwing, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim populist movements in Europe, is not solely a defensive reaction to mortal terror. A host of complex political, economic, psychological and cultural considerations contribute to ones political predilections. However, the fact that fleeting death reminders have a potent effect on political preferences conflicts with the democratic ideal that electoral outcomes result from rational deliberation.

Perhaps the best approach to fortifying those democratic ideals is to monitor, expose and oppose efforts by all candidates to exploit existential anxieties for personal and political gain.

When politicians claim we should vote for them because they are uniquely qualified or divinely ordained to eradicate evil, we should actively combat the inclination to allow mortal terror, rather than cogent assessments of candidates qualifications and positions on issues of importance, to determine our choices. Fearmongering mendacity would then become an electoral liability, rather than a potent political advantage.

Sheldon Solomon is a professor of psychology at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is co-author, with Jeff Greenberg & Tom Pyszczynski, of The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life

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The secret to Trumps success? Its sheer existential dread - The Guardian

We regret to inform you that your petition to not die has been denied.

We had a tremendous number of applicants this year, more than five hundred million, as awareness of our services, once considered a hoax, spread across unedited social-media platforms.

We assure you that we reviewed your application thoroughly. We remind you that omission of any material was cause for rejection, and you wrote N/A on the areas marked heirs, life-insurance policy, and number of times youve used the expression I could just die. However, we conducted our review with the information available.

According to your Statement of Eternal Purpose, you have an idea for an app that decodes dreams and then recommends charities based on those dreams; you fact-check people who post misleading information on Twitter about your favorite TV shows; and you plan to adopt a dog from a rescue shelter. These attributes, while encouraging, describe more than ninety per cent of our applicants, many of whom are children.

A few judges were initially persuaded by your argument that your parents told you that your death was so far away it would practically never happen, and therefore it would be unfair if you actually had to die. However, we ultimately concluded that if we granted you immortality on these terms we would have to spare everyone whose parents told them this, which would create an insurmountable logistical and metaphysical problem for our systems.

We are pleased that your yoga practice has helped you recognize the light in all beings, and that you dont even feel weird about having the loudest ujjayi breathing in the class. But your story about meditating for thirty minutes did raise some questions among our panel about your ability to handle an eternity of the mind.

The judges were unclear whether you have a fatal illness or another imminent threat to your life. A few members of our panel argued that your answer to the adversity questionBody pains that could be cancerwas the reason for your petition, but others pointed out that the doctors report you submitted indicated that you are in excellent health.

Which made us wonder whether your impetus for submitting this application was simply your realization that you would one day die. And, Madam, we must admit, this gross lack of understanding, only recently corrected, did not recommend you to our judges as a candidate for eternal life.

In terms of a future resubmission, we suggest that you take another look at your references. The descriptions your boss provided of the skills youve acquired and the projects youve managed at the media company where you work were impressive, but they offered our judges little insight into how you would perform when faced with the burden of infinity. The rest of your references appear to be recommendations for college written by high-school teachers.

Madam, we caution you: immortality is not for everyone. If you have a cowlick, you will have a cowlick for all time. You will have to forgo any plans to haunt anyone. You will have to forgo fantasies about your own epic funeral.

We hope that you understand how incredibly selective this process is. We wish it could be different. We wish all human beings could be afforded the giftor, some might say, the cursethat we provide. Every day, were working to bring you new solutions. But, at the moment, our immortality options are limited to cryogenic freezing, vampirism, and really, really good gut bacteria.

We know this news must be devastating. We appreciated the opportunity to read your application, including the supplemental childhood drawings you submitted of yourself beside a bearded figure with a wizard hat labelled GOD. Its always disappointing to hear that your entire existence, your body, soul, and consciousness, will rot into the soil of a temporary earth and disappear into vast nothingness. We encourage you to reapply, reminding you that we accept application fees on a rolling basis.

Read more:

Your Immortality Application - The New Yorker

Silas was one of the most powerful characters on The Vampire Diariesbut who is he and what's his backstory? When the Mikaelson siblings aka The Originals made their debut in The Vampire Diaries season 2, they were introduced as the first immortals and thought to be the oldest supernatural beings in existence. However, after the introduction of Silas in the fourth season it soon transpired there was a being far older than the Mikaelson clan who had achieved immortality long before they had.

To properly understand Silas place inThe Vampire Diaries universe, some knowledge of his history is needed. Thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece, Silas (Paul Wesley) was a powerful witch that was part of a group known as The Travelers alongside his fiance Qetsiyah (Janina Gavankar). Silas convinced Qetsiyah to make an immortality elixir for them to drink so they could be together for eternity. It turned out to be a trick when Silas drank the elixir with his real true love Qetsiyahs handmaiden Amara (Nina Dobrev), a mere mortal - which made them the first true immortals.

Related: Vampire Diaries Series Finale: Who Lived & Who Died

Silas plan to live forever with Amara hit the fan when Qetsiyah exacted her revenge. She created a cure for immortality and led Silas to believe shed given it to Amara before killing her but had really desiccated her and bound her to the Other Side as its anchor. Qetsiyah then gave Silas an ultimatum; take the cure and die a mortal before spending eternity with Qetsiyah on the Other Side - a sort of purgatory for supernatural beings - or rot away as an immortal. He chose the latter and spent the next few thousand years prior to the modern-day events ofThe Vampire Diaries imprisoned in a tomb in an underground cave on a desolate island.

InThe Vampire Diaries season 4 Silas was freed from his tomb by a motley crew that includes Shane, Bonnie, Jeremy, and Katherine. After being freed, Silas used his powerful magic to take on the form of various Mystic Falls residents and manipulated people into enacting his plan to destroy the Other Side so he could be reunited with Amara. At the close of The Vampire Diaries fourth season, it was revealed Stefan was Silas doppelganger as he took his place and locked him in a safe which he then threw in a quarry.

In The Vampire Diaries season 5, Silas goes after Katherine whose blood now contains the immortality cure. After feeding on her and becoming a mortal witch once more, Silas sets out to destroy the anchor but soon finds out the anchor is none other than Amara, who he thought to be dead. Unfortunately for Silas, spending a couple of millennia as the anchor had sent Amara a bit crazy and she immediately fed on his cure-filled blood so she could also become mortal and die.

By the end of The Vampire Diaries season 5, Silas gets his wish of dying alongside Amara after Stefan fatally stabs him and Amara then kills herself. But because he didnt destroy the Other Side in time, Silas is sent there after dying while Amara goes to regular human afterlife. Youd almost feel sorry for the star-crossed pair if it wasnt for the trail of blood and dead people left in Silas wake during his time on The Vampire Diaries.

Next: The Vampire Diaries Season 9 Updates: Is It Happening?

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The Vampire Diaries: Silas The First Immortal Explained - Screen Rant