Posts by fulltimestudent

23

Just sharing - Beautiful, 3500 y.o. female mummy from West China

by fulltimestudent in

searching for information regarding the north side of tibet province in china, i found this image of this woman:.

"the beauty of xiaohe," female mummy, ca 1800-1500 bc.

excavated from xiaohe (little river) cemetery 5, charqilik (ruoqiang) county, xinjiang uygur autonomous region, china.

fulltimestudent

Dis-member:

The Chinese government has put an official travel ban on a mummy as well as some other artifacts that were scheduled to be shown as part of the ‘Secrets of the Silk Road’ exhibition in museums in the United States. The problem seems to be the the artifacts, and the mummy in particular, have secrets of their own. The Beauty of Xiaohe, pictured above, has been dead for over 4,000 years and yet she tells a story that conflicts with the official Chinese history of migrations into China.

As you can see from the picture, The Beauty of Xiaohe is a near-perfectly preserved mummy. She has long eyelashes and hair that still falls across her shoulders. She also has Caucasian features. That’s the problem. Her very existence, and that of others that have been found in China’s Tarim Basin, in Xinjiang province suggest that the area was settle by Europeans rather than Asians initially. That flies in the face of the accepted history of China.

According to the Chinese government, the Chinese first made contact with the west around 200BC when the then emperor Wu Di tried to establish an alliance with the West against the Huns who were then based in Mongolia. The mummy suggest that Westerners were in China long before then.

This isn’t just a problem with having to alter the government-approved version of contact between East and West. It has to do with a separatist movement by the current inhabitants of the oil rich China’s Tarim Basin, in Xinjiang province. The Uighurs who have had violent clashes with what they view as intrusion from the Han Chinese in recent years.

It is thought that perhaps The Beauty of Xiaohe mummy will give the muslim Uighurs fuel for their fight with the ruling Han Chinese. And so, for now, the mummy has been pulled from exhibitions in the United States by the Chinese.

Its rather regrettable that you chose to cut and paste, without any analysis, this sloppy example of western journalism at its most biased. The journalist chooses to jump between past and present and to use terminology that is quite anachronistic.

May I demonstrate why I say that?

23

Just sharing - Beautiful, 3500 y.o. female mummy from West China

by fulltimestudent in

searching for information regarding the north side of tibet province in china, i found this image of this woman:.

"the beauty of xiaohe," female mummy, ca 1800-1500 bc.

excavated from xiaohe (little river) cemetery 5, charqilik (ruoqiang) county, xinjiang uygur autonomous region, china.

fulltimestudent

Searching for information regarding the north side of Tibet province in China, I found this image of this woman:

"The Beauty of Xiaohe," female mummy, ca 1800-1500 BC. Excavated from Xiaohe (Little River) Cemetery 5, Charqilik (Ruoqiang) County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. © Wang Da-Gang

And this child from the 8th C BCE

Side view of infant mummy, ca 8th century BC. Excavated from Zaghunluq, Charchan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. © Wang Da-Gang

Just wanted to share:

20

A peek in to future of transportation

by jgnat in

trends include self-driving clean vehicles and temporary leasing rather than buying vehicles (the driverless vehicle arrives to pick you up, and you drop it off at your destination).

the result?

1/8 the traffic on existing roads!

fulltimestudent

Mum:

My goal is to live without a car. Even an old car that is paid for is quite an expense, with gas and oil, maintenance and repairs, and high insurance rates.

Same here:

Years ago after exiting Yahweh's Spiritual concentration camp and the usual divorce, the choice was owning and paying for a car, or the purchase of another home. The home won.

These days, the choice is different. Its now either a car or being able to afford and overseas holiday. (Smile, at least the overseas holidays - in Asia - is cheaper than a holiday within Australia.). So holidays win now

10

For Band on the Run-My Chinese Experiences

by fulltimestudent in

band on the run, stated on another thread, that rather than hearing that china is now the world's greatest manufacturer of cars (something, i guess, no red-blooded american wants to hear), that her preference is to hear about:.

if you are in china, i would much rather hear about your experiences.

how much freedom do christians have?

fulltimestudent

Listener:

Thanks for the information Fulltimestudent. My hubby and I are visiting Hong Kong and Macau once again, in just over a weeks time. The Jw's seem to be fairly active in the streets of Hong Kong, unless it was just coincedence. I have seen them twice on previous visits.

The last time I saw them on a street corner very close to the Chinese/Macau ferry terminal with their literatue trolley. Out of the three people manning the cart only one looked Chinese. I nearly stopped to pick up some literature just to see if they would warn me about not taking it into China but I doubt they would have and I think this was the exact reason why they had located themselves so close to the Ferry terminal.

I decided to split my response to your post because it would be too long otherwise. Thnx for mentioning your observations about JWs in HK.

I should have mentioned HK and Macau as separate to PRC, because the JWs have been free to work in both places for a long time. HK is supposed to have over 5000 publishers and over 60 congregations. I have little information otherwise. (the JWs really do not rate high on my interest screen these days -grin). I do know (gossip) that a missionary in HK came out as gay many years ago - not that means anything much.

Macau has many old Christian churches and a beautiful old church ruin that is probably the number 1 attraction in Macau (besides the Casino's). The Portuguese people who migrated to Macau were responsible for establishing these Churches.

I've posted elsewhere that another reason the Catholic church had a strong influence in south China because of the proximity to the Philipinnes. BS- (i.e. before the Spanish), the King of the Northern Phillipines had a vassal status with the Chinese Emperor, so there were close relationships between the Philipinnes and south China.

I hope you both have a great trip, and really enjoy yourselves.

10

For Band on the Run-My Chinese Experiences

by fulltimestudent in

band on the run, stated on another thread, that rather than hearing that china is now the world's greatest manufacturer of cars (something, i guess, no red-blooded american wants to hear), that her preference is to hear about:.

if you are in china, i would much rather hear about your experiences.

how much freedom do christians have?

fulltimestudent

OK - back to the topic.

I'm still looking at the lives of Chinese people that I know.

Coming to Australia next week is Jnx, with his wife and daughter.

Jnx did a masters degree at Sydney uni some years ago. While here he lived in the same suburb as I live in, we got talking at the bus stop one day and gradually became friends. He also liked Australia and because he had relatives here, tried to get a job in Aust. when he finished his studies, but failed, so returned to China. It took him 6 months to get a position ijn China, but he did- with a large telecom company. He's gradually risen up the ladder and today is (I guess) in middle management, and with an income that permits overseas travel once a year (last year, Australia, and the year before S.E.Asia). His wife also has a good job (secretary) in a large American company.

The first time I went to China, they lived in a room in a sort of rooming house. It was quite dilapidated, but I guess it was cheap. Within 2 years they had saved enough money to buy an older two bedroom apartment with a small kitchen, bathroom and lounge. They had some sort of subsidy from the city government to help them buy. Both sets of parents came and helped to renovate it inside. After their daughter was born, one set of parents came to live permanently and look after their grand-daughter. That seems a common arrangement in China.

I paint a picture of this guy, for two reasons. First, he's a member of the Communist Party of China and second, during his visit last year he wanted to visit Catholic churches, so I think he's converting to Catholicism. Once, the CPC was committed to atheism, but I believe that commitment to atheism is no longer a requirement for membership in the CPC.

Maybe this coming visit will provide an opportunity to discuss it.

10

For Band on the Run-My Chinese Experiences

by fulltimestudent in

band on the run, stated on another thread, that rather than hearing that china is now the world's greatest manufacturer of cars (something, i guess, no red-blooded american wants to hear), that her preference is to hear about:.

if you are in china, i would much rather hear about your experiences.

how much freedom do christians have?

fulltimestudent

Listener:

Unfortunately, China still hasn't made it any easier to get Visa's so once again we have chosen not to travel there.

Yes, there can be problems getting a visa, but there are some ways around the problems:

If you check out the Chinese Embassy's web-site, you can download the application form and post it to the processing office. The consulates used to process the applications, but the Chinese government seems to out-sourced the processing to a private company, but in the end its much the same. In Sydney, the processing office is near the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool street.

The next difficulty is that they request a schedule showing where your staying, and confirmation of the bookings. If a travel agent is handling your trip arrangements that should not be a difficulty. But (if like me) you like to be free and able to change arrangements, its a bloody difficulty. However, if your not experienced in China travel, I think your better off with confirmed arrangments.

Now that I have reasonable contacts, I can get around it by the alternative offered on the visa application form, that is a letter of invitation from a China resident.

I think the China government wants to know this information in case of accidents or crimes. Imagine the problem in China of finding a body in an obscure back alley. First, there's a need to identify the body, particularly if the body is caucasian. Knowing who could be in the locality would be a help. I don't think that's likely to be a problem, though. as I feel safer in China than I would feel in say, Kings Cross in Sydney.

And, btw - the procedure is much the same for Chinese visitors to Australia. They have to do similar things. This emphasises that much of the red tape is associated with reciprocal arrangements.

Another thing that may interest you, is that the biggest cities including Gaungzhou may allow 72 hours of visa free stay.

Here's what the Embassy web-page says:

2) Transit in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu within 72 Hours

Iirrespective of the passport type, citizens of the following 45 countries who transit in Beijing via Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai via Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou via Baiyun International Airport, Chengdu via Shuangliu International Airport, within 72 hours are exempted from visas for China:

Austria, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

For more information, please click here.

So you could land in Gaungzhou ( I think), spend 3 days in GZ and then exit to HK. Talk to your travel agent.

OR

3) Foreigners to visiting the Pearl River Delta or Hainan Island

A. A foreign citizen holding an ordinary passport issued by any country with diplomatic relations with China is exempted from a visa if he or she is already in Hong Kong or Macao and joins a tourist group organized by a travel agency, which is registered in Hong Kong or Macao, for a visit to the Pearl River Delta region (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou) and his or her stay is no more than 6 days.

B. A foreign citizen holding an ordinary passport issued by any of the following countries is exempted from a visa if he or she joins a tourist group (of 5 or more persons) organized by an international travel agency registered in Hainan with the approval of China National Tourism Administration to visit Hainan Province and his or her stay is no more than 15 days: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the U.K., Ukraine and the United States of America.

Citizens of Germany, Republic of Korea and Russia may join an international tourist group (of 2 or more persons) and can stay up to 21 days.

I interpret that to mean that you could, once you're in HK, join a tour arranged by a local Travel Agent, for a day or up to 6 days without a visa.

You could see if you can do some one day tours, just to get a feel for travelling within the PRC. I'd love to to see the new Guangzhou tower (architectural interest for me).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIndvVTjGTQ

But the local travel agents will be able to give you more details or where you could go.

--------------------

We are running out of places to see in Macau and Hong Kong but we just love how different it is to our own country, Australia.

In any case, there are other places you can go. Try Taiwan, I think (your passport must be valid for more than 6 months) Aussies can stay in Taiwan without a visa for up to 30 days. Check to be sure.

All of east Asia (Vietnam, N and S Korea and Japan) have similar cultures (with regional variations), because of the enormous influence exercised by Chinese culture.

So try South Korea, (and its rather easy for Aussies to go to North Korea, albeit as part of a tour group) also.

3

Leo Greenlees - shuffled to Toronto Bethel - anyone know for how long?

by berrygerry in

it would seem logical that greenlees was shuffled to toronto to allow for a settling period.. anyone know for how long he was there - or any other info?.

fulltimestudent

This thread sparked a memory.

If Greenlees was 'exiled' to the Canadian branch, then there is a bizarre twist.

According to another freemind's post, Greenlees had once been a 'companion' of Percy Chapman, the former Canadian Branch Overseer, who was "done" by Nathan Knorr for homosexuality.

Perhaps they spent their declining years in each other's arms. What a merciful and loving arrangement by the Yahweh/Jesus Combo god.

Or, maybe not- perhaps my romantic imagination is getting carried away.

Nathan and Percy at Yankee Stadium in 1958. His last performance on the platform of power. By the time of the next assembly rounds, Percy was 'toast.' If this informant is correct, Nathan mercifully allowed Percy to remain at the Branch Office as a cleaner.

Oh! " How have the mighty ones fallen, And the weapons of war (sexual love) perished."

Even among those men who found each other's love more wonderful than the love from women. 2 Samuel 1:26,27.

--------------------------------------

Anyway, here's the freemind's post:

Tales from Toronto Bethel

At one time I thought that perhaps I was the only gay Jehovah's Witness in Canada, perhaps the world. This was not unusual, as most gay/lesbian Jehovah's Witnesses feel the same way. There is a conspiracy of silence on the subject, since these things were "not to be even mentioned" by a good Christian.

Percy Chapman and his companion Leo Greenlees were sent by Rutherford from London Bethel in 1936 to replace the rebel Canadian Branch Overseer, Walter Salter, who had started up his own group over the "elected elders" debacle. Percy was a mesmerizing public speaker of the old school (no voice amplification required) and with his Lancashire lilt of voice and large frame reminded me of Winston Churchill, flapping jowls and all. I can still remember the reverberating vibrato of his voice warning of the "vile depths of the abominations" and since I knew that homosexuality was "an abomination unto the lord" wondered if that was what he was referring to. It was not until later that I began to suspect the administration at Bethel was mainly gay.

Poor Leo Greenlees, Percy's close companion for three decades even when at London Bethel, had to find himself a new room-mate. Leo was a cheerful, likable fellow, with his thick Scottish brogue and also an electrifying public speaker. He was very open about his homosexuality to those few good-looking young brothers like those he would meet at one of the summer resorts in Haliburton run by Jehovah's Witnesses (later bequeathed to the Watchtower Society). I got to know Leo a little better when he was assigned to be congregation overseer at the Kingdom Hall I attended as a teenager during the early sixties in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto. He would bring along another bethel boy, Lorne Bridle, who was very good looking and charming. After a failed marriage to a young pioneer sister, he eventually committed suicide. I often wondered what tortured state of mind led him to that - but so often the fate of closeted gays in the Watchtower society!

Reference: http://www.freeminds.org/history/percychapman.htm

3

Chinese Gay man sues Therapist who claimed to cure homosexuality.

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

this is an interesting law suit to see in china.. its hard to predict which was it will go.. reference: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-08/01/content_18227918.htm.

lawsuit challenges alleged gay 'cure'by shan juan (china daily)updated: 2014-08-01 07:20. plaintiff calls shock therapy 'a total scam'.

an alleged homosexual man signs his name on a rainbow flag in this 2013 file photo in changshang, central china's hunan province.

fulltimestudent

this is an interesting law suit to see in China.

Its hard to predict which was it will go.

Reference: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-08/01/content_18227918.htm

Lawsuit challenges alleged gay 'cure'

By Shan Juan (China Daily) Updated: 2014-08-01 07:20

Plaintiff calls shock therapy 'a total scam'

An alleged homosexual man signs his name on a rainbow flag in this 2013 file photo in Changshang, Central China's Hunan province. [Photo/IC]
A Chinese court began hearing the country's first-ever lawsuit by a homosexual man subjected to a treatment that was supposed to "cure" his sexual preference.

Forum for gays just a click away

My child is … gay
The gay plaintiff, Xiao Zhen, 30, told China Daily that he was confident about his case. A ruling is expected in about a month.

Xiao, who appeared in the People's Court of Haidian District, Beijing, for the hearing, said the psychological impact of the alleged "homosexual cure" provided by a private psychological counseling center in Chongqing still lingers in his mind.

That one-hour therapy session, he recalled, included hypnosis and electric shock treatment - and "was a total scam".

It cost him 500 yuan ($80).

"I think I will win the case with sufficient evidence. Homosexuality is not a mental disorder at all; so all alleged treatments are cheating," he said.

The treatment center and Baidu Inc, one of China's biggest Internet companies, will be required to issue an apology and pay cash compensation of 10,000 yuan if Xiao wins the case, he said.

Xiao went for the treatment in February after he saw the center on Baidu in a commercial promotion category.

"That's false advertising, as homosexuality is not defined as a mental problem in China," said Li Duilong, Xiao's lawyer.

China removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders under the 3rd version of Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders in April 2001.

"That's in line with the international standard. The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its mental diseases list in 1990," Li said.

In addition, the center's registration authorized it to provide only counseling services. Electric shock therapy belongs to mental treatment, Li said.

According to Xiao, the counselor first hypnotized him by asking him to imagine a gay sex scenario, and then administered an electric shock to his genitals when he reached orgasm.

"The whole therapy is priced at 30,000 yuan for the cheating nightmare," Xiao said.

He added that several of his gay friends had similar experiences.

Xiao Dong, director of the China Rainbow Health Organization in Beijing, an advocate for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, said that to provide such alleged "treatment" is illegal.

Moreover, Baidu, a large and well-known company, should shoulder more social responsibility and conscience in its advertising business, he said.

Experts estimate the homosexual population in China at 40 million, including 30 million men. Discrimination remains widespread, they say.

[email protected]

6

The Pope countermands Jesus Own Command to preach

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

most xjws likely have matthew 28:19,20 burned into their brains, if indeed they ahve brains left after years of boring meetings.. but, in case you have forgotten the text, it says:.

go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have commanded you: and, lo, i am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

happiness, according to the wts would be yours if you loving prreached the message to endless shuit doors and minds.. but, according to the pope:.

fulltimestudent

Most XJWs likely have Matthew 28:19,20 burned into their brains, if indeed they ahve brains left after years of boring meetings.

But, in case you have forgotten the text, it says:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Happiness, according to the WTS would be yours if you loving prreached the message to endless shuit doors and minds.

But, according to the Pope:

"Don't proselytise; respect others' beliefs."

Reference: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pope-francis-issues-top-10-tips-for-happiness--including-dont-try-to-convert-other-people-9639488.html

See his 9th commandment.

Well, I think the Pope wins, dont you?

48

Can anyone give me any advice on how to get rid of cockroaches?

by Jeannette in

i have sprayed, i have bug bombed, i have sprayed some more.

i threw things out i thought that they might have a nest in.

i soaked some things in hot water all day.

fulltimestudent

then bam, they're back again.

Cockroaches will inherit the earth