Posts by mark taslov
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Spirutaulity...
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I find it interesting that so many families are mentioned in the Abrahamic religions. That there's alot of intergenerational and interfamily stuff. At least in contrast with eastern religions which are far less biological and more of the metaphysical bent. rice paper and wine. singing in unison, and getting God damned cramp and sore knees.
as an aside, there's something bizarrely poignant about the English word TAO being slang for 'condom' in Chinese, poorly appropriated loanword of the term DAO meaning 'the way'
I don't see so much distinction between spirituality and superstitions as much as between spirituality and religion.
Spirituality being truly personal as opposed to that more collective sense that is inspired by things like organized worship and shared belief systems.Spirutaulity seems to be a sense of potential. Rich Lock, you mention the ecstasy of riding. the quest for nirvana. Sacha you mention the quest for beauty in abstraction, while Morgan Nichol you prefer a more contrapuntal beauty, and andin you describe pleasure and appreciation. Steven you illustrated the conception of mortality and go into incisive detail
"but I think its understandable way some people look for more prescriptive methods of coping with life".
I think at coalface, that best sums up spirituality for me
Not just a sense of appreciation and of beingness but also a sense of interaction, with your life. purportedly divining the possibility that we may be influencing elements beyond our empiricall potential or limitations. via subconscious manipulation of the metaphor that gives whatever this is we sense around and between us, meaning.some of us follow stratagems essentially guided by what could be classified as coincidence, miracles and epiphanies. Brief moments when our senses are joggled onto the quest for further interaction with the beingness.The sense that our thoughts inside somehow influence the universe at a subatomic level and viceversa. That vital emotions, senses and phenomena like pain, laughter, sorrow, tears, anger, joy, jealousy, ecstacy and peace, could mould and turn the clay of our being and even experiences in untenable ways.
and it would seem from all accounts that focus and discipline are the keys to unlockng this sense.
a large portion of religious doctrine contains a common thread regarding the perception of immortality, the continuous tense of existence.....and how to attain it.
for the more pragmatic it's the knowledge that by focusing on ill gotten annoyances, such as stress, or a backache, a mere worry or greater, we may alleviate them. despite the intrusive drudgery of medical science .
It's either an absorbing fantasy, a glitch, or the mildest insight into a magnificent future.
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Wow! I never understood the fuss about Kevin Smith the actor, but this music and his drawings are wicked. Strong New Zealand flavour. I have a new found respect for this man. Thanks Russell.
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editor tells you he/she needs...
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you're trying to hide your mistake, Mark?
Not at all. I make mistakes frequently. However, whether this is a case of mishearing or not knowing the difference, I'm infrequently told it's best not to comment on such matters. The article I was recklessly flaming was about silencing the people, I will duly restrain my desire to second guess translations by professional translators hired by international media organizations in future.
And I'm sorry my grin offended you.
The grin doesn't offend me, it simply illustrates your attitude towards the hardships these people are suffering.
that wasn't really accurately put either Jamil. It's simply, you are standing with people who have been tortured and subjected to various ordeals, You've seen photos of their injuries, and you're standing there amongst a small crowd with an inane grin wearing a beanie.... translating some guy who's just doing his job and is probably pretty pissed that instead of looking at him and giving him some respect, you're translating what he's telling you directly to a camera, knowing full well that most Chinese would agree with what he's saying; re "you can't enter the building" and "you're not going to change anything". It's a cultural affront.
Having exhausted all my effluent criticism, your article does raise good points, and I believe you do at times perform this kind of journalism well, but taking a rest from this the 'imminent societal malfunction' campaign. You'll get more satisfaction from the praise, than the offence. As someone living here, you know that these practices, are not a product of the Communist party, or the mythological evil totalitarian regime, or the financial crisis.They are a product of the Chinese culture.
And regardless of what your editor tells you he needs, There are many ways to enhance your reputation.
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If you don't know the difference between 老百姓 (laobaixing - literally "old hundred names" but most commonly translated as "the common people", "common folk") and 老北京人(laobeijingren - 'old Beijingers') then probably best you don't comment on translations by professional translators hired by international media organizations.
Why Jamil? It's an easy mistake to make. Isn't that the same kind of , 'hide the mistakes we make and refuse to question for fear of being wrong,' attitude you are criticizing in your article 'Last hope, Last stand'?
Apart from that, I'm glad my piece provoked such a strong reaction from you.
5 miffed minutes on the way out the door, makes you glad? That's how it seemed from here to, and precisely my point in baiting you thus. If you want to be a human interest stories journalist, why not show some genuine interest in the plight of the people, rather than getting your thrills provoking people who know that the connection you make between these people's age old problems and 'economic unrest' is a liberty you have taken.
And I'm sorry my grin offended you.
The grin doesn't offend me, it simply illustrates your attitude towards the hardships these people are suffering.
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...totally neglecting to mention, that true last ancient recourse for disempowered; guanxi=personal relationships
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and there's nothing remotely grinworthy in the issues he reports. Mainly that, he's prone to absolutes 'the last whatever of hope',and various mistranslations; for example earlier in the article a man saying 'we old beijingers', mistranslated as 'the common people', paints an emotive picture.
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What I meant to say was, he often makes a tremendously convincing case for upheaval and replacement of the totalitarian system for the imperialist's ear.
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Elsewhere, New Zealander Jamil Anderlini has published a fascinating set of video reports from the Financial Times' Beijing Bureau. The theme is "China's silenced citizens" and their use of the country's 3000 year-old petitioning system in search of relief.
hmm..Jamil Anderlini, he wouldn't be reporting about social unrest again would he? ah yes, that smarmy grin, as he informs the foreign viewer that he has been refused access to film inside a government building...news.