Posts by fulltimestudent

it had already been looted (many times) but these beautiful murals have now been stabilised and preserved.. a detailed account can be found at: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/25680 - if it interests you.. it was apparently the tomb of an important military commander in the political area controlled by the northern qi dynasty, a short lived political unit during the few hundred years of political confusion between the han dynasty and the sui dynasty (also short-lived, but the first to control most of the territory of the former han and therefore seen as re-uniting the whole of china.).

the images can be seen at: http://www.livescience.com/37414-pictures-china-mural-tomb.html.

fulltimestudent

This tomb was actually found in 2008, in Shuozhou city, Shanxi (if you know China) approximately 200 km from Beijing. It had already been looted (many times) but these beautiful murals have now been stabilised and preserved.

A detailed account can be found at: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/25680 - if it interests you.

It was apparently the tomb of an important military commander in the political area controlled by the Northern Qi dynasty, a short lived political unit during the few hundred years of political confusion between the Han dynasty and the Sui dynasty (also short-lived, but the first to control most of the territory of the former Han and therefore seen as re-uniting the whole of China.)

The images can be seen at: http://www.livescience.com/37414-pictures-china-mural-tomb.html

I like the 4th image, of the dead couple enjoying a banquet. Its intereting that the musicians and attendants are segregated by gender. Male on the side of the dead commander, and female on the side of his wife.

Its unclear, whether its meant as a memory of their life together, or whether it has a religious significance, expressing a belief in an after-life in a future spiritual paradise (grin).

73

The Bad Science Scandal - Research Fact Fabrication - UK News article.

by *lost* in

the independent neswpaper uk - tues 18th june 2013 .

the bad science scandal - how fact fabrication is damaging uk's global research name.

after a string of high profile cases, a new agreement between scientists and the people who fund them aims to usher in a new era of .

fulltimestudent

Fraud, for whatever purpose is likely to be with us forever (i.e.- its part of human nature). But this story and its eventual exposure highlights the importance of peer review. Modern scholarship is best marked as subject to review by the peers of the researcher, leading eventually to exposure of fraud.

That's the opposite to religious attitudes, where it is too often claimed that the (claimed) words of gods or their prophets cannot be critiqued. (I should note though, that within Buddhism there is a tradition of critiquing ideas,)

22

Kidz in North Korea

by fulltimestudent in

even in difficult circumstances life goes on.

these piks show some of the activities of children in nk.

they are usually not identified, but we can presume that they would mostly be of the children of the elites and their associates in pyongyang.. it is thought by western observers that only people loyal to the state are allowed to live in that city.. calligraphy is an important art form in the east asian area, and nk is not an exception.

fulltimestudent

And then the young delegates go home, thanking Kim Jong-eun for taking such good care of them, and resolving to be good citizens in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8vfOH9Gkc

22

Kidz in North Korea

by fulltimestudent in

even in difficult circumstances life goes on.

these piks show some of the activities of children in nk.

they are usually not identified, but we can presume that they would mostly be of the children of the elites and their associates in pyongyang.. it is thought by western observers that only people loyal to the state are allowed to live in that city.. calligraphy is an important art form in the east asian area, and nk is not an exception.

fulltimestudent

Young delegates enjoying some "official" time out between sessions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j7m_Qy0SJg&feature=endscreen&NR=1

22

Kidz in North Korea

by fulltimestudent in

even in difficult circumstances life goes on.

these piks show some of the activities of children in nk.

they are usually not identified, but we can presume that they would mostly be of the children of the elites and their associates in pyongyang.. it is thought by western observers that only people loyal to the state are allowed to live in that city.. calligraphy is an important art form in the east asian area, and nk is not an exception.

fulltimestudent

A year ago Kim Jong-eun addresses a young peoples conference, promising "laughter in every home."

Where have I heard something like that before (grin)?

Ah yes! There's an election soon in Australia, and our pollies are out in force saying something similar (an even bigger grin)

(apologies - only 1 video, I cant see why its replicating into more copies)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai_5uOiQ9Wg

1

Discovery of ancient city in Cambodia

by fulltimestudent in

.

in cambodia, an entire ancient city has been found, where once only a few isolated temples had been thought to exist.. researchers from the university of sydney tell of their discoveries:.

http://media.smh.com.au/system/ipad/hidden-city-4481540.html .

fulltimestudent

In Cambodia, an entire ancient city has been found, where once only a few isolated temples had been thought to exist.

Researchers from the University of Sydney tell of their discoveries:

http://media.smh.com.au/system/ipad/hidden-city-4481540.html

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea: theopneustos

by fulltimestudent in

someone's imagination cut loose.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vgvhndes12o .

fulltimestudent

Someone's imagination cut loose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VGvHnDeS12o

22

Kidz in North Korea

by fulltimestudent in

even in difficult circumstances life goes on.

these piks show some of the activities of children in nk.

they are usually not identified, but we can presume that they would mostly be of the children of the elites and their associates in pyongyang.. it is thought by western observers that only people loyal to the state are allowed to live in that city.. calligraphy is an important art form in the east asian area, and nk is not an exception.

fulltimestudent

Your not alone in not knowing much about NK. The regime can only be described as secretive. But also there's a damn lot of false information being spread around, as various stakeholders, from South Korea, to Christians, and the regime itself.

But to answer your questions. It would appear that these children would belong to the families of the various levels of the elite and the people who serve them, probably including factory workers, etc.

Many think that NK society is based on percieved loyalty and to some extent (anyway) is based on inherited loyalty. So if your 3rd or 4th generation descent from the loyalists in the long struggle against the Japanese, or have been long term members of the Korean Workers (communist) party, you're like royalty.

At the lowest level are the political prisoners and their children (yes! you can inherit 'disloyalty'). Above them are the peasants.

In some ways, North Korea is still organised like a feudal state. If you're born in the right family, you inherit privilege. If not, you're sh*t.

Does Kim Jong-eun have total control? That's arguable. Like a 'feudal' king, maybe his 'control' is dependent on the continued support of the very top level of the elite.

There is (I think) only a small middle class, consisting of people who 'serve' the elite.

The poor (think peasants) get enough to live - that's all. And, that's the bulk of the people.

But news of the outside world filters through. The border with China is porous. (If NK border crossers are caught in China, they're returned, much the same as border crossers from Mexico are returned to Mexico by the US Immigation. But many people (it seems) do go back and forth, especially if they have some contacts in the Chinese-Korean community that live along the Chinese side of the border.

News of Chinese and South Korean prosperity must be spreading - and that may mean that one day, there will be a massive surge of unrest. And perhaps that's the real reason for the policy of Songun (army first) and the reason why the army is so huge. The real enemy may not be the US or SK - but the NK peasants. If that thought is right, it will be a bloody mess if it ever happens.

You can understand why China would be concerned - who'd want a mess like that on its border. I suggest that's why China keeps pressing NK to change (as China has changed). China has atttempted to provide assistance, but recent articles in the Chinese media suggest that the North Koreans keep welching on business deals and that more and more Chinese business people do not want to do business in NK.

If there is a total collapse from mass unrest, who will pick up the pieces? It seems that increasingly South Koreans do not want to 'rescue' the north. They are familiar with what happened in Germany, when the East was suddenly combined with the west. I'm not sure that China would either.