Posts by fulltimestudent

4

China's 'Little Africa' in Guangzhou

by fulltimestudent in

increasing business relationships between african nations and china has also brought migration between the two areas.

chinese people move to africa, and african people move to china.

south china, in particular guangzhou is a favourite location for africans in china:.

fulltimestudent

Increasing business relationships between African nations and China has also brought migration between the two areas. Chinese people move to Africa, and African people move to China. South China, in particular Guangzhou is a favourite location for Africans in China:

The image below shows the southern end of Baohan Straight Street, the heart of the African area, Dengfeng Subdistrict, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, which some call the heart of Africa in China. (Image from Wikimedia).

Below: Another street scene from the same area.

The ethnic mix that can be found in China is illustrated in the small food shop below. The shopkeeper seems to be Muslim, perhaps from the Hui ethnic group in Tibet, or a Uyghur from West China, who seem to operate food stores in many places in China. (They make great bread) As well as a number of Africans, another Muslim girl is evident in the foreground. Her face appears to be more Chinese, and may suggest her origin is from Yunnan Province (next to Myanmar). (Image from Wikimedia)

20

China officially #1 WORLD POWER, surpassed USA in economy and soon will in military.

by EndofMysteries in

another thread related but the title only says, "china is #1", which can mean anything and hence many may not view it who would be intersted in the world power shift.. for the first time since 1945 usa is #2 for economy.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-official-america-is-now-no-2-2014-12-04.

do you think the gb are sweating yet?

fulltimestudent

Some recent events indicate interesting trends.

1. In Australia, where there is currently a conservative government, the USA had apparently specifically requested Australia not make a Free Trade Agreement with China, so what does this very pro-American government do? Right after the G20 meeting, it signed a FTA agreement with China. The benefits etc are still being argued, but it is clear that Australian Agricultural products will benefit by unfettered access to Chinese markets, and enable the industry to escape the strangle-hold that Australia's grocery duo-oply had on the dairy industry.

2. At the prior APEC meeting in China, all 21 APEC member-nations endorsing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) - the Chinese vision of an "all inclusive, all-win" trade deal capable of advancing Asia-Pacific cooperation - see South China Morning Post (paywall). The loser was the US-driven, corporate-redacted, fiercely opposed (especially by Japan and Malaysia) 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). [See also here .

3. Beijing advanced its blueprint for "all-round connectivity" (in Xi's words) across Asia-Pacific - which implies a multi-pronged strategy. One of its key features is the implementation of the Beijing-based US$50 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. That's China's response to Washington refusing to give it a more representative voice at the International Monetary Fund than the current, paltry 3.8% of votes (a smaller percentage than the 4.5% held by stagnated France).

4. Beijing and Moscow committed to a second gas mega-deal - this one through the Altai pipeline in Western Siberia - after the initial "Power of Siberia" mega-deal clinched last May.

Reflecting on all that, the Asia Times writer, Pepe Escobar wrote:

this vertiginous flurry of deals and investment had to converge towards the most spectacular, ambitious, ... infrastructure offensive ever attempted: the multiple New Silk Roads - that complex network of high-speed rail, pipelines, ports, fiber optic cables and state of the art telecom that China is already building across the Central Asian stans, linked to Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Indian Ocean, and branching out to Europe all the way to Venice, Rotterdam, Duisburg and Berlin. Now imagine a near future Eurasia as a massive Chinese Silk Belt with, in selected latitudes, a sort of development condominium with Russia.

Link: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-141114.html

15

My difficulties in writing academic essays, contrasted with the same difficulties by NK elites

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

i struggle to write good academic essays.

i'm never happy with the result of my labours.

i've had a few hds, but still feel they lack something.. for some months, i have been pondering why i have this problem, and the realisation is becoming clear that my problem is the result of having my brain washed clean by jesus for 40 years (my period of enslavement to the wt cause).

fulltimestudent

Thanks Oubliette, for your suggestions. They are appreciated, and the preparation of a good thesis statement is something to which I should give more attention.

The point I set out to make in this thread, was the experience I shared with the NK students and the influence of that experience on my own mind. To me it explains why I'm good at story-telling.

45

Why isn't the story of SAMPSON quickly and clearly regarded a myth?

by Terry in

judges chapter 15:.

14 when he came to lehi, the philistines shouted triumphantly at meeting him.

then jehovahs spirit empowered him,+ and the ropes on his arms became like linen threads that were scorched with fire, and his fetters melted off his hands.+ 15 he now found a fresh jawbone of a male donkey; he reached out and grabbed it and struck down 1,000 men with it.+ 16 then samson said: with the jawbone of a donkeyone heap, two heaps!

fulltimestudent

Simon: I posted about this a while ago ( Is the WTS backing away from "Bible Tall Tales" ? ) and called him Sampson too ... so it's Samson rght?

Biblical names are usually transliterated into English (or any other language). Strong's says the transliteration is Shimshown, pronounced as shim-shon, and means "like the sun."

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

And there's more than magic hair in this story. There's also magic water: ( ch15:19) " Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, fn and it is still there in Lehi."

20

China officially #1 WORLD POWER, surpassed USA in economy and soon will in military.

by EndofMysteries in

another thread related but the title only says, "china is #1", which can mean anything and hence many may not view it who would be intersted in the world power shift.. for the first time since 1945 usa is #2 for economy.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-official-america-is-now-no-2-2014-12-04.

do you think the gb are sweating yet?

fulltimestudent

Another poster says:

China only has a major economy because the world uses them to make cheap crap to buy.

There's no doubt that China became the world's factory. But, they make what other people order from them. If any nation has Chinese "cheap crap," its because that's what your fellow countrymen think you want (or, can afford).

But that's changing. Wages are going up, and factory production is going down (slightly). Is it part of a plan? Maybe. In 2008 I first noticed that the authorities in Guangzhou were closing down small 'cheap' manufacturing factories, telling them to go to Vietnam or to west China. With around 350 million people with a living standard not too different to the UK/USA, service industries are starting to grow.

More sophisticated products are also being made and sold. In Sydney, I travel to my universities in modern, 'made in China' trains. Boston commuters will soon do the same, as are commuters in many other countries.

As Metatron observed:

China exceeds the US in international trade and is building high speed rail to connect the world. Their influence is there but less noisy than the US.

You can now ship goods to Europe by train, rather than ship.

Yesterday, the Thai Parliament approved a bill, permitting China to build two new railways in Thailand. A few weeks ago the Indian and Chinese governments set up a planning project to build a new rail link into India. A few weeks before that a Lhasa and Xigatse (in Tibet) rail link commenced operation. Work will now commence on an extension that will eventually provide another link into India.

The day before yesterday the Nigerian government gave an order to Chinese companies to build a new 1400 km long railway along the Nigerian coast, for twelve billion dollars. (Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/20/us-china-railway-construction-nigeria-idUSKCN0J40C420141120 ).

Within China, starting 2007 a 15,000 km network of highspeed (200+km/hour) trains has been built, and new sections are being added all the time. By 2020, there will be 20,000 km of hi-speed trains, many of them operating at 300 km/hr. For example you can travel, Beijing to Shanghai in approx. 4 hours, making it competitive with air travel (2 hours airtime for the same trip).

And that only starts to describe what's been done in the rail field by China.

Militarily China is still not up to par with the US/UK military. If any major confrontation took place China would be taking on both the US/UK military. China is only where it is at because they let the US/UK have military dominance, and don't waste lot's of money on supporting a worldwide military influence.

Do you think that the UK forces are worth much?

(162,550 Regular and 28,860 Volunteer Reserve personnel.This gives a total strength of 191,410 Service Personnel.)

And, of course, if there was a major global confrontation, who do you think may be fighting alongside the Chinese. Recent developments in the international field, linked to Obama's obsessive hatred of Putin (probably because the Russians foiled US plans to destroy the Assad government in Syria) have pushed the Russians into greater co-operation with China. They have now agreed to sell any of their often excellent military equipment, including fighter planes that are likely better than the overweight, overcost F.35s to China.

No point to go on, with this 'whose got the bigger phallus,' type discussion.

20

China officially #1 WORLD POWER, surpassed USA in economy and soon will in military.

by EndofMysteries in

another thread related but the title only says, "china is #1", which can mean anything and hence many may not view it who would be intersted in the world power shift.. for the first time since 1945 usa is #2 for economy.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-official-america-is-now-no-2-2014-12-04.

do you think the gb are sweating yet?

fulltimestudent

May I comment:

First of all the concept that the Book of Revelation was predicting events in the distant future is rubbish. A careful reading, starting at ch.1,vs1 locates the predictions in the time of writing, as it says,

"the things that must shortly take place."

Those who attempt to predict the present through this document are doomed to disappointment, as Christians have been disappointed for 2000 years, and JWs in particular since the late 19th century.

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

Second, the dissemination of information in western economies has been reduced to a way of selling advertising space. To sell advertising space you must have circulation. To build and keep circulation you must present news (information) in a 'shock' format so that the curiousity of your readers will be aroused.

Looked at from that light, this news is overstated. Why? To shock readers and get them to buy/read the media outlet disemminating the information.

There is no doubt that one day China will become more powerful, must become more powerful, than any other nation, simply because of its size. Of course, it may then be in competition with India, presently struggling with a runaway population. But then, by that time, India and China may decide that they have more to achieve from co-operation than western-style competition.

The Chinese government has previously stated that the size of its economy is irrelevant, and that what is much more important is the GDP per head of population, and on that basis (even with 20% of its population living below or only a little above the poverty line) the USA is still clearly ahead of China.

15

Mass Slaughter of Animals in Hindu Festival

by cofty in

thousands of animals have been slaughtered at a religious ceremony in nepal.

the gadhimai festival takes place every 5 years.

apparently some imaginary deity can be bribed by the sight of blood.. before getting too judgemental does it remind you of anybody?.

fulltimestudent

cofty: Thousands of animals have been slaughtered at a religious ceremony in Nepal. The Gadhimai festival takes place every 5 years. Apparently some imaginary deity can be bribed by the sight of blood.

Before getting too judgemental does it remind you of anybody?

One of my lecturer's described a busy day (during a festival) at the second Jewish Temple in the time of Jesus. Possible thousands of animals were sacrificed there also, and you can imagine the noise of the animals, the piles of animal sh*t, the piles of animal guts, the smell of all that plus the BBQed meat. All supposed by the brainless worshippers to have some meaning in their relationship with their imaginery God, and that all the bad smells were a 'sweet odor' to Yahweh.

Keep that mental image of a busy festival day at the Temple, and now see how idiotic is the description given in an early (circa 155 CE) Christian document entitled, The Martyrdom of Polycarp, which describes the arrest, trial and execution by burning*** of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. (ch.14)

" ... bound, like a splendid ram chosen from a great flock for a sacrifice, a burnt offering prepared and acceptable to God, "

*** And if anyone needs proof that Christians live in an imaginery world, consider what the author writes in Ch. 15:

And as a mighty flame blazed up,

"we saw a miracle (we that is, to whom it was given to see)."

And goes on to describe how (miraculously) the fire arched around the body of Polycarp, and there in the middle of the arch of flame, they could see and smell the burning Polycarp ...

"... not like flesh burning but like bread baking ... For we also perceived a fragrant odour, as it it were the scent of incense..."

But human or animal - its all the same to Yahweh and Jesus, and whatever Hindu divinity, to whom the Nepali sacrifices were offered.

15

My difficulties in writing academic essays, contrasted with the same difficulties by NK elites

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

i struggle to write good academic essays.

i'm never happy with the result of my labours.

i've had a few hds, but still feel they lack something.. for some months, i have been pondering why i have this problem, and the realisation is becoming clear that my problem is the result of having my brain washed clean by jesus for 40 years (my period of enslavement to the wt cause).

fulltimestudent

Thnx for all your comments

To the queries about HD- its short hand for High Distinction, above I think 90%.

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

Oubliette: what field or discipline are you trying to hone your writing skills? What level? Secondary? University? Graduate?

Let me know, I could possibly point you toward some resources that could help you develop your writing skills.

I'm an old-age undergraduate, hoping to graduate next year with a B.Arts and with majors in Chinese History, Japanese History and Ancient History with an Asian emphasis.

Which means, I will have to write three x 5000 word essays on approved topics.

At the moment I am considering the following.

Japanese: The connection between prostitution and the Kabuki Theatre.

Chinese: How Teddy Roosevelt helped the Chinese Communist Party to power in 1949.

Asian Ancient History: The north-south trade routes that were part of the Silk Road Trading Network.

All help is always appreciated.

15

My difficulties in writing academic essays, contrasted with the same difficulties by NK elites

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

i struggle to write good academic essays.

i'm never happy with the result of my labours.

i've had a few hds, but still feel they lack something.. for some months, i have been pondering why i have this problem, and the realisation is becoming clear that my problem is the result of having my brain washed clean by jesus for 40 years (my period of enslavement to the wt cause).

fulltimestudent

Ms Kim, by the way, is being bitterly criticised for having blown the cover of the "Christians" who are behind this huge subterfuge.

The possibility exists that the NK leadership are already considering what to do with this school.

I have seen, on such sites as this, criticism of the JWs for their 'theocratic war strategy,' which justifies telling lies, to advance (in their terms) Kingdom interests. But the truth is that the technique of deception runs right through Christianity. There are many brands of Christians deceptively preaching throughout East Asia, all with the desire to implant the mind of Jesus into the minds of other people. I have a feeling that a crisis point is approaching, having just recently noticed a complaint by some Tibetan Buddhists who had signed up for an English course in Xining, Qinghai Province. These women complained that the reading material was all Christian and that they felt sullied by the deceptive experience. Such problems seldom make it to the mainstream press unless the authorities are thinking of taking some action.

15

My difficulties in writing academic essays, contrasted with the same difficulties by NK elites

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

i struggle to write good academic essays.

i'm never happy with the result of my labours.

i've had a few hds, but still feel they lack something.. for some months, i have been pondering why i have this problem, and the realisation is becoming clear that my problem is the result of having my brain washed clean by jesus for 40 years (my period of enslavement to the wt cause).

fulltimestudent

Think about it!

I realise that my mind is still influenced (how could it NOT be influenced) by 40 years of intellectual imprisonment. That's why I can tell a story OK, but its is more difficult to construct an argument. Like the young NK men, shut off from the wider world, they by birth, we by choice, we cannot imagine a different world

And, if we think more widely, isn't it like that for other Christians also? Think of those that have posted on this site, they are no different to what we were as a brand JW.com Christian. Its about a story, abnout narration.