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Showing posts from August, 2018

Toward a non-European Socialist Vision

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We need to distinguish between EuroSocialism and Socialism. In Eurosocialism, there is an avowed belief that culture is formed by economic development.  And hence, they attempt to take control of human evolution through control of the economic milieu. Whilst that is in part true, we have to realise that culture is not thoroughly formed in the west as it might in other parts of the world like India and China. European socialism is more 'technical'.  It deals with the body, not the mind or spirit. In these parts, culture, rather than 'being formed' by economic development, can instead be used to interpret economic development or even challenge it, like Buddhism did more than 2000 years ago in the face of the growth of the capitalist tendency in parts of India, or Sannyasins (wandering ascetics) did in the past, and to a smaller degree, in the present. One could even state plausibly that Buddhism was the world's first Socialist movement. Even Japan had to get rid of B

Meh?

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I keep seeing this silly word all over the place (oh dear, the american juvenile again...).  Well, I finally searched for its meaning, and discovered that it is supposed to mean, 'not impressive', or a nonchalant monosyllabic ejaculation of disinterest.  So an expressive ejaculation by an ill-educated american teen who's inclined toward reaction as opposed to cogitation becomes a word.  I see. Such ‘words’ - OMG, LOL, Meh, et cetera - are like gaseous reactions, like flatulence, or a much awaited burp from a child with colic.  It relieves one of the need to justify their 'meh'.  It's a proclamation of judgement based on ‘feeling’, with such a reaction being mistaken for explanation - not unlike words like ‘eww’, 'cool', 'weird', 'dork', 'nerd', ‘creepy’, amongst other great literary achievements by american teenagers.  Mark Twain, Hemmingway, didn’t know what they were missing. THIS is certainly a new twist on the evolution of Orw

The Real Singapore, in rap

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Sudah lah Singapura Wah kah le kong hor this is Singapore Turns all into a matador a carnivore After enough they still want more Too bad there ain’t no system restore People got the branded lenses but ain't got no vision They got widescreen tellies But man they're  tunnel-visioned governmental stricture is holy scripture well-biased toward the yellow tincture They like it unadulterated So, no no, please no admixture go glaze eyed when they are contradicted They’re gonna think you need to be committed they got the words not the perspective cerebral haemorrhage if introspective Many aren’t nice Sucking you dry like head lice From top to bottom COE to economical rice only brands cash and condo matter if you disagree you’re the mad hatter their brains all fallin’ out, get the suture intellect critical low in cubic measure *Wah kah le kong hor this is singapore So clean you can eat off the floor Thinkin out of the box is such a chore National pledge is ‘it’s like that one lor’ *** p

Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore's Founding Father?

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Lee didn’t make the most of singapore in respect and appreciation of its potent cultural differences.  He simply did the best that could be done when you get rid of it. He chose the easy route.  Nothing brilliant about that i'm afraid. I posted a review of Viking Blades', the 'Chieftain' safety razor, not too long ago on Amazon US, and received this reply from them, "Ed, Thank you for your heartfelt review. It's not that often that we receive such amazing acknowledgement. You sir have made our day and given us so much more motivation to continue staying in this tough business despite fierce competition from the big boys. Thank you once again and enjoy your Odin. Robert Vikings Blade PS: We love Singapore. One of the most inspiring countries in the world. The food, the people, the culture, the founding father are second to none!" * I was pleasantly surprised by Robert's sincere gratitude indeed, especially since i didn't expect a reply from Vikings