This will just be a rambling blog where I post up what ever is on my mind. Similar to a status report. You know "the weather is terrible". Whatever is on my mind...
Last edited by Nakia the Rogue on Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:13 am; edited 2 times in total
On Egyptians - Years ago I ran across a essay by some sientist about Egyptians and he considered them as unique because of their mixture not pure Arabs.
The Arabic peninsula would be a true melting pot because it was there that humanoids crossed when It continued as a major trade route thus bringing a variety of people into contact with each other.leaving Africa.
Had the surgery yesterday late afternoon and a follow up examine this morning. There is some swelling and I have medication for that but overall the surgery went well. Now it is just a matter of healing. Still not sure how much vision I will get back. I don't expect too much for the left eye due to the damage done by the Macular Degeneration but hopefully at least some of the peripheral vision. Won't be on the computer much for a few days.
The surgery worked better than I expected. No miracles as the center vision is lost permanently but the peripheral vision is really great and makes a big difference. Next Monday the right eye will be done and if that goes as well I should be in pretty good shape. If the organization Stay Connected comes through with a couple of things I will be a very happy rogue.
Great news. My mother told me this surgery changed her life. I know for a fact that people get used to losing eyesight quality because it's a gradual process but if you manage to turn things around it's a fantastic improvement!
Eye update. The right eye surgery is completed and has had a week to do some healing. I am noticing a definite improvement is eye sight but with one negative effect. I am getting more glare. It is slowly improving so hopefully with time that will change.
Colors are much better, much brighter and clearer. redbluegreen Contrast of black letters on white background is still poor. Letters and numerals are slightly larger which will be a definite help in playing games. I still need a magnifier and small print is beyond my eye sight.
The eye sight should improve more as time goes by but because of the Macular Degeneration will always be limited since there is no way to reverse the damage done.
I am very pleased with the progress made and hope for a few more years of game playing and being able to post here.
I have also recently learned about a religion new to me that is very interesting. It is still a religion but the basic philosophy is fascinating. It is Sikhism.
Like you said things should improve with a little more time. It does take some getting used to. The glare may be a regular thing. I remember my mother did complain about something like that (I'll ask her).
I don't know much about this religion so I'd be curious to hear more about it.
I believe I mentioned that I fell in love with a bearded man online. He is a Sikh so I looked up the religion. It was founded in the 1400s in Punjab I gather as reaction against the caste system of Hinduism. Theoretically everyone is equal both men and women and all peoples. Although I get the impression that it doesn't quite live up to its aspirations but at least they try. They believe in one god and have ten gurus. There are baptized Sikhs and unbaptized Sikhs. The baptized Sikhs do have certain requirements. They do not cut their hair, wear special undergarments an iron bracelet, wear a turban over their hair, carry a comb and an iron dagger, do not eat meat.
My eye surgeon is an unbaptized Sikh and I gather does not practice any of the rituals. They seem to be a very hard working people and on the whole have done well in the USA and Canada. I also find interesting that they give the impression of being a very peaceful and sere people but are famous as warriors. It is part of their religious belief. They believe in justice and must protect that justice not only for themselves but for those who are defenseless. They do not proselytize as all are equal. The USA, Canada and the UK military have made special adjustments to accomodate their religious beliefs. They may have beards, not cut their hair and have a special military turban in all three countries.
There also seems to be a long standing hostility between Sikhs and Muslims. Marriages are arranged and the orthodox or baptized do not date. Marrying outside the faith can get you removed from your family so again the prejudices of religion raise its ugly head once more even in this religion.
I like the basic philosophy as I understand it but why does religion always have to be so restrictive and spoil things?
When I worked in the TV industry, on worked on a documentary show about teenagers in various faiths and how they live in them. We interviewed a Sikh girl and it was for sure an eye opener about their religion. They really are a peaceful and friendly people. Like you pointed out, there are some elements of traditionnal organized religion that really sucks, but that religion is one step ahead of the others, IMO.
I remember the interviewer asked the girl a question about homosexuality. And she answered "we are all imperfect individual and thus are in no position to judge others. The Sikh focus on what we can change: our own actions. What are neighbours do is between themselves and God".
I also find it disapointing that so many american Sikh we bullied and roughed up in the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center. They aren't even of the same religion!
I also find it disapointing that so many american Sikh we bullied and roughed up in the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center. They aren't even of the same religion!
Because it was ok to assault Muslims?
I know that's not what you meant but that attack had nothing to do with religion. The guys who did it were drinking at a strip joint the week before, that's not very righteous. The guys who did the attack in Paris had a history with drugs and that's definitely not the definition of people who care about religion either.
No religion that makes people follow arbitrary rules can be said to be "ahead" but that's just my opinion. I'm an individualist and I don't play nice with organized religion although I find the subject interesting (if a bit scary because faith can be both a powerful tool and a terrible weapon when it is misguided).
I'm not talking about the attack themselves. Following the attacks on the WTC, a lot of regular joes (letting out their closeted racism) lashed out on innocent muslims as revenge. But a lot of Sikhs were also targeted. My point isn't that it's okay to assault muslims (it isn't), but rather that because they look "different" than the majority, they were amalgamated to a hateful minority of another religion.
I think I understand what Tri means by "ahead". In the 1400s when Sikhism was founded Christian women were the property of some man. Owned by their father or oldest near relative if the father was dead until they were married when they became the property of their husband. Because this still lingers in some Christian sects I was against marriage. Whether arranged or a love match it is still IMO a woman being sold. Intellectually I know this is not true for all marriages but emotionally that is still my reaction. Christianity is a misogynistic religion even more so that the basic Islam theology as stated in the Qua'ran
Also Baptized Sikhs are not cramming their theology down others throats just their own people. They aren't perfect but they are IMO ahead of other religions that I am familiar with.
There is Confucianism but from what I understand of that "religion" it got messed up when his followers deified him.
I don't know about Canadians but IMO residents of the USA tend to be shall we say a bit dense and make unwarranted judgments. "All Muslims are bad. Muslims wear turbans. You wear a turban therefore you are a Muslim." Ask someone in the street where Punjab is and they will probably say it is a saloon in Frankfort, Ky if they even know that there is a Frankfort.KY.
Update time -Got my new computer ad am slowly getting it to were we ca co-exist i peace. The dropss and ointment have made my eyes very blurry so have't doe much - also have trouble with the n key so if you see a word that does not make sense try sticking a n in.
I have been following the nomination elections closely. I have rapped Trump pretty heavily on FB but I love how he has the Republican leadership in such a tizzy. My foot doctor pointed out something I hadn't thought of - no one owns Trump he is totally independent, a real renegade. Christy, the New Jersey governor whom I like is endorsing him and seems to have a influence on him. The booha about the ex leader of the KKK is silly. He Trump has trashed the KKK and other racist groups on may occasions. The liberal press is after trump ad sometimes they ca be as big a pain in the butt as the conservatives. Would trump make a good president? Take a good look at the other candidates before answering that. It seems Bernie Saunders is not considered a real choice for the Democrats and he is the only other one not owned by someone. He does seem to have some influence on Hilary but as far as I am concerned the only Hilary really cares about is wining and she will do and say anything to win.
I just hope that this election will wake up some of our politicians to the fact that it is WE the People they work for and Wall Street or some other big corporation. I can dream.
From where I stand the US elections only convey a sense of dread. Trump is a dangerous buffoon who is also a racist and a reactionary but Clinton is a power hungry warmonger who will set the world on fire if she gets elected. It's the perfect definition of a lose-lose situation.
Yes, Donald Trump is dangerous but so is every other potential candidate. I don't think he is any more racist than anyone else. We all have our biases and prejudices. He is a sucessful international business man. He is acustome to making deals, treaties, alliances. He has global experience. Can he be trusted? No, but can any of the others be trusted? Also something that people whether from other nations or from the US don't seem to realize is that the House of Representatives is powerful. It controls the allocation of monies. The Speaker of the House is a powerful man and ca block things the President wants to do.
From a liberal view Berie Saunders would be the best candidate but the Republicans will go after his age and his socialist views.
My guess is that we will see a change in what D Trump says. We already have seen that.
I apoligize for any spelling or typing errors as I haven't got the computer adjusted yet for my needs.
As an outside observer I agree with Carabas here, it definitively will be a lose-lose situation. Being so close to the US it WILL affect Canuckland as well so please don't vote this buffoon into office.
Sorry Nakia but I think you may be overestimating that guy's acumen. Being as rich as Croesus doesn't mean that you have the right set of skills to rule a country nor does it mean that you should be ruling a country. It's like giving away the keys to the candy store to the spoiled overweight greedy kid and I can't see how that scenario could turn out well.
As far as being a racist I'm only judging him on his proposal to build the Great Wall of Mexico to supposedly fend off illegals and drugs and his idea of forbidding Muslims from entering the US or even staying on US soil. That Great Wall nonsense is pure demagogy since the US won't be able to maintain it and it won't make any difference anyway because people North of the border will still be asking for drugs and cheap undocumented labourers.
When it comes to banning Muslims all I can say is good luck keeping an amicable relationship with Saudi Arabia and all the oil producing countries in the Middle East... Then again it's pure demagogy and I wager that right now in the US it's easier to feed off hatred and fear of Muslims rather than coming to terms with the responsibility of the West in creating the conditions that lead to the current situation in Iraq, Syria and Libya.
What I fail to understand is how people can see universal health care as a bad thing. That is absolutely crazy and the fact that Trump is getting support because of his opposition to what can only be considered as a form of social progress is disheartening. The fact that without some expensive private health insurance people can't get proper medical care is absolutely bewildering. Over here people who get sick with cancer don't have to mortgage their houses to get some treatment and although people without a premium health insurance may still find going to the dentist rather costly they don't have to rely on NGOs for that. We do have our share of problems and we do complain about our hefty taxes which is why I get that US citizens don't want to pay but I can't help thinking that given the current situation the poor keep getting the short end of the stick and the absence of universal health care only makes things worse.
With this election the USA is in a lose/lose situation. Ted Cruz ad Rubio are Ultra Conservatives and would disable the social programs that Obama has managed to get in place. Trump might do that too but would try to at least replace them with something maybe not as good. Hilary Clinton I simply do not trust ad question her global/international abilities. The Ultra Conservative Republicans are anti every thing I believe in. A Conservative President with a Republican controlled congress would des
My choice as far as domestic policy goes would be Bernie Saunders but I do not know if he has the global skills. Bernie Saunders is a socialist ad that will hurt him if he is nominated. Socialism is still a bad word in the USA.
Just watched Romney's speech against Trump. It may make a difference to undecided voters but how much this will count only time will tell.
The Republican Establishment is trying to appeal to Conservative voters but how many Conservatives are there in the nation? Most of us maybe conservative in one area and liberal i aother. Moderate in others. Voters should not be labeled that is a mistake.
Maybe its time for this to change? Maybe its time for people to start thinking with their own minds and see the actual differences between socialism and capitalism in order to be able to make a decision that suits their own interests? Maybe its time for people to read Das Kapital? Maybe its time for people to aknowledge the existence of social classes and the fact they have opposing interests?
It bothers me, it bothers me a lot. I've been asking around discretely over the years, and realised people have no clue what left and right are, they have no clue about social classes, no clue about redistribution, social inequity, common good, neo-liberalism, neo-colonialism...history...nothing. Just a set of preconceived ideas carefully innoculated by the leading elites who own everything, including the mass manipulation device known as "media".
Stephen Hawking wrote something really insightful on the subject:
"If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality."
The problem is that our current system doesn't make sense. The stock market is just madness and make believe and people seem to be perfectly content living in a madhouse.
Yeah, I never understood the stock market. The value of something, a country's whole economy even, is what people perceive it to be. A rumour can kill a company's value. It's literally fuelled by people who buy and sell in the intention of making a quick buck. The documentary "Enron : the smartest guys in the room" is especially depressing in that regard.
Stephen Hawking wrote something really insightful on the subject:
"If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality."
The problem is that our current system doesn't make sense. The stock market is just madness and make believe and people seem to be perfectly content living in a madhouse.
What Hawking said sounds like a quote from Marx, just worded slightly different. The french economist Thomas Piketty also sounds like quoting Marx when he talks about the capital/labour split.
24 years ago, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, i watched George Bush on TV saying the historic words: "we have won the cold war". The first words that came out of my mouth were: now watch the wealth and freedom of the western people start to decline.
To explain, i always thought that capitalism was showing a humane face only because the fear of communism. Now that communism was no longer a threat, capitalism could return to its original form....and it looks like slowly it did just that. As capitalism is slowly returning to its former self, the long forgotten work of Marx becomes actual again, its only natural.
I am in awe of great minds like Hawking that can just take one look around and grasp what is going on and synthesise it in a few words that not surprisingly sound like what Marx said 150 years ago.
by Blood Red Eagle Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:24 am
Nakia's Babblings
