Trumpsters have a malignant game that many liberals (years ago wimpishly changing their name to ‘progressives’) don’t even know about. It’s called “owning the libs.”
It means deliberately provoking and triggering reactions in liberals by intentionally pushing their buttons. A hate-filled, rightwing neighbor and his wife tried it on me in last week, and the fellow even admitted it when I confronted him.
This is what happened. (Of course it’s my recounting of the incident, but the fellow freely admitted the set-up and their reasons for it.) It began, as most mornings in this neighborhood do, with the barking of their black Lab, which has the loudest bark you’ve ever heard.
A couple years ago, neighbors on their street convinced them to get special training for the animal, but there’s no special training that can offset neglect. I fear that’s happening toward the two small children in the house, which is far more serious than canine neglect, despite dogs having become America’s sacred cows.
Their dog often whines and then barks with a distinctive double bark in the mornings when the adults are getting ready to go to work. People in back of them have learned to work (and sleep) around this considerable annoyance and annoying inconsideration. But on this particular morning it went on and on, though I could see the woman and man in their kitchen disregarding the barking at the sliding door.
Because I’ve asked them to mind the dog better, which was met with open hostility, I had a feeling it was intentional. This was confirmed when the barking started up again after half hour and I looked out to see the young man staring at my window from the corner of his patio, and then giving me the finger.
Most mornings I take a short bike ride, and I foolishly rode down the street that morning. The guy was again malevolently waiting for me, and yelled some obscenity as I went by. I stopped and he said, “I knew you would ride by.”
I replied, ‘What are you, a Trumper and this is some kind of ‘own the libs’ shit?’
“That’s exactly right,” he proudly proclaimed, adding that he knew I was “more than liberal.” He then said: “I hate you so much that I’m going to kill you and do 50 years in prison for it.”
At that point it would seem that the intelligent thing to do was to leave and call the police. Especially since, God help us, they’re both teachers.
But that would have just escalated the situation over time. After a few heated verbal exchanges, which brought us within inches of each other’s faces as I stood astride the bike on the sidewalk, a strange calm came over me.
The young man, who goes by initials (I’ll call him TJ), kept saying, “I don’t like you,” as if that was even worse than, “I hate you and am going to kill you.”
I replied, “Like and dislike is for kids; we don’t have to like each other. But hating each other is another thing.” So I offered my hand, but TJ wouldn’t shake it. I stood my ground, and offered it twice more before he took it.
Half my age and a more fit, he thought he would out-squeeze me. But since a hand injury a few years ago and the onset of some arthritis, I’ve been squeezing a tennis ball at night while watching a British mystery (like all good libs do).
So the harder he squeezed, the harder I squeezed. On the surface it reminds me now of the “death grip” handshake between Macron and Trump when they first met, their hands turning white as neither let go.
The difference is that I felt no need to ‘win.’ Energy poured through my hand that I only realized in retrospect. When he let go, I said, ‘You have more going for you than I realized; you’re not some low-IQ guy like I thought.’
TJ kept talking trash but the situation had been defused. He was dressed for a golf game, and sneeringly said, “I bet you never played sports.” ‘As a matter of fact I was a national class athlete,’ I replied. “At what?” ‘Track,’ I replied.
‘Have a good game,’ I added riding off, without a jab of villainy or stab of irony.
Self-awareness is integral to normal human development. When a person, much less an entire ‘tribe’ or people don’t acquire this crucial character trait, a nation displays a case of mass arrested development.
Democrats like to think they’re self-aware (“woke”), but the average Democrat is no more self-aware than the average Republican.
Owning the cons, unlike “owning the libs,” begins by taking complete responsibility for the darkness within one, rather than projecting it and trying to trigger reactions in your “enemy,” as Trumpers often do.
Non-haters can and must prevail (not ‘win’) in America and the world. But we can only reflect and defuse another’s hatred when we are aware of and take full responsibility for our own.
Liechtenstein. When I was in the US Army, in 1974 I visited Lake Constance. I visited 3 countries in one sweep, they were Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We made a stop at Liechtenstein and visited the Liechtenstein Palace. Little did I realize I was in one of the smallest countries in Europe. When looking at the palace, I automatically thought this place was haunted. I didn’t experience anything paranormal, but I was fascinated by the beauty of its structure. It’s now a government building. I also did not realize it was haunted by the Liechtenstein Palace Dancing She Devil (ghost). To tell a short story, this ghost did not realize the Devil had gotten the best of her. She would not find a husband at the ball, and now that she had made a laughing stock of herself she likely would not find a husband ever. She collapsed dead from a premature stroke, and fell from the top of the stairs. The servants took her twisted corpse home on a portable table.
But her soul remains at the palace to this day. After midnight, her twisted and bloody apparition awkwardly tries to entice young men to dance with her. And she grows insanely violent at the sight of pretty women, attempting to scratch their faces and bite them. She also attacks old men and women, whom she irrationally blames for her plight.
Her haunting, though, is rather lonely. Liechtenstein Palace is now a government building used for official functions such as meetings or receptions and is usually empty by dark.
Some visiting dignitaries have stayed there overnight, though, including Spain’s King Juan Carlos and his wife, Sophia; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; and Japanese Emperor Akihito with Empress Michiko. They did not mention any spectral encounters.
I have visited many countries and many territories, there is a place I would love to visit and that would be Plum Island. So let’s take a virtual airplane ride from Liechtenstein Palace to Plum Island! Below is a flashback on when they found the second Montauk Monster and what I had to say about it:
SECOND MONTAUK MONSTER FOUND!
See the video of the second Montauk Monster found at this site: www.montauk-monster.com/ The first Montauk Monster was debunked by my former boss Dr. Larry Barrett at Plum Island on an episode of History Channel’s Monster Quest. I had the honor of working as an employee for Dr. Larry Barrett at the Radiological Health Branch. Dr. Barrett now works on Plum Island where it is rumored that there are experiments in biological warfare on this island. There are other rumors that Anthrax is made here and that DNA manipulation of animals is performed on this desolate island. If there were some kind of strange experiments happening on this island, I don’t believe my former boss would be participating. Dr. Barrett is a straight and narrow kind of guy. I saw the video footage and the picture of the second Montauk Monster and all I see is a water logged dog that washed up on the beach. A water logged carcass can look very odd, pulling up facial skin and exposing the teeth. If the carcass was in the water for a long time, it may have bumped into floating debris which in turn would cause the skeletal structure of the face to look deformed. The only way to prove what the second Montauk Monster is by having a DNA test on the carcass and the mystery will be solved once and for all.
Dimensional Rift at Montauk Point? Below this article you will find my comments on the 2nd Montauk Monster that they found. If for some reason DNA testing of this strange animal is analyzed and it is determined that it comes from an unknown species, then I will eat crow. I will also look at the factors of this strange place called Montauk Point. A place where a dimensional rift may have been torn into our own space / time continuum that now allows creatures such as the Montauk Monster to enter our plane of existence. At Fort Hero, there is an abandoned air force base that was decommissioned in 1969. The base at some areas seems operational and finances to keep areas of this base operational come from unknown sources. Montauk Point is a scenic area with a beautiful lighthouse. But this scenic area may be hiding strange secrets that date back to 1943. In 1943 the USS Eldridge was experimented on. The government sought out radar undetectibility, but stumbled onto something else. Legend has it, that the USS Eldridge became invisible and was removed from our space / time continuum. It was also teleported 100 miles away to Norfolk, VA. The sailors on board were released to mental facilities, so any comments they would say to the public, would be perceived as unbelievable.
It was also reported that some of the sailors were infused into the hulk of the ship. You would see a man’s torso seemingly glued to the hull of the ship. It was rumored a green mist enveloped the ship and it became invisible to many witnesses. Experiments in time travel and further experiments with the Philadelphia Experiment continued up to 1983, when somehow things went awry and a dimensional rift was torn into the fabric of space / time. It appears now, that we have the art of electro magnetic bottle technology placed into the edge of science accuracy as our own stealth fighters use this technology to be rendered as invisible to radar.
Other experiments were conducted at the Montauk Project, such as mind control. I think it would be essential to experiment with mind control with the subjects that were involved with this mysterious project. It is a necessity that everything is kept hush hush and the only way to do that is through total mind control. When you have a scientist like Nikola Tesla, along with many other scientists involved with experiments that are on the cutting edge of the paranormal, it is demanded by government officials to secure all scientific procedures with a shroud of secrecy. That shroud would enable government officials to control the minds of all involved with the Montauk Project, especially when the project may be dealing with Zero Time. Zero time is working outside of the realm of a three dimensional universe.
It is rumored that with Phoenix III at Montauk, that government scientists were able to create a time tunnel of sorts and to make sure that the time tunnel worked, drunks and derelicts were collected and thrown into the time tunnel. They made sure the drunks and derelicts were sober for a week, before entering the tunnel, if they were to survive and come back, they were questioned by government officials. The story goes, many didn’t make it back and they are still floating in the midst of time. The few that did make it back, their stories were retrieved and later they died by mysterious circumstances. The government selected drunks and derelicts, because they would not be missed by friends or family members.
Something must have come out of the dimensional rift at Montauk Point, because in 1986, a huge hairy beast was seen in the nearby forest and people speculate that the beast destroyed one of the shelters on the base.
Montauk Point could be one more place that equals to the legends of places like Skinwalker Ranch. It’s a place that needs further investigation and perhaps Plum Island is an extension of this mystery.
The sphere of issuing loans in small amounts for a short period is actively developing today. Therefore, many people become interested in how microloans work, what their advantages and disadvantages are. On the one hand, microloans are an excellent opportunity to solve some problems almost instantly. And on the other hand, the over-payment for such a privilege is quite high.
The Essence of Microloans
As a rule, microloans are issued by microfinance organizations, and a special law regulates their activities on microfinancing. Microfinance organizations have more freedom in setting the conditions for issuing loans, so they put huge interest in each loan. At the same time, there are organizations focused on lending to small businesses that issue funds on more loyal terms. Therefore, if you are interested in this type of loan, you should know about tribal lenders at https://cashspotusa.com/lenders/sov/ that provide it. The following types of microloans can be distinguished in this market:
Loans for several days (for online purchases, etc.) transferred to electronic wallets;
Loans for several weeks, transferred to wallets, to bank accounts and issued in cash;
Loans to small businesses issued for a period of up to a year.
Features and Benefits of Microloans
Microloans are an alternative to bank loans in the following cases:
Money is needed urgently (within a few minutes or hours);
A person with a bad credit history needs money;
An unemployed needs money.
Ordinary consumer microloans are issued for a period of up to 31 days at 1-2% per day. If you ask yourself what percentage of microloans is, then making simple calculations, we get about 30-60% per month and 360-720% per annum. Unlike banking (which today range from 20-30% per annum), these percentages seem utterly outrageous. At the same time, their feasibility is easily explained by the target audience of such loans. High-interest rates are designed to compensate for the loss of MFIs from a large number of defaults. If we positively talk about microloans, then they have the following advantages for borrowers:
Minimum verification of a potential borrower
No involvement of guarantors, no provision of collateral, etc.;
The opportunity to get a loan with bad credit history;
High speed of decision making and allocation of funds.
Nuances of Using Microloans
Some nuances should be taken into account when using such a financial instrument as microloan. Microloans are issued easily and quickly, which is why there is a temptation to take a loan in those situations when you could do without them. For example, taking microloans for the purchase of tourist packages, gifts or just for arranging holidays is not practical. The cost of loans is so great that even in a couple of weeks of using money, the amount that you have to repay will be much higher than what you took. At the same time, in situations where the money is urgently needed, microloans will be very useful.
There are over 35,000 public employees who are over-indebted and receiving under the minimum wage after all the deductions to creditors. The most affected are workers with loans from Caja de Ande, Banco Mutual, cooperatives and Banco Popular.
The Treasury is to guarantee that they receive at least the minimum wage, stopping the automatic deductions of money from their salaries at that point. The minimum wage is ₡190,377 (About $325)per month.
As of 2020, all officials of the Central Government, Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Legislative Assembly, Comptroller General of the Republic and Ombudsman’s Office will have access to the minimum wage regardless of how much debt they have.
This is part of the Government’s plan to address high indebtedness of Costa Ricans. It could, however, have a negative effect on the financial institutions which gave credit under a plan where they could recuperate it automatically from the salary and may now not have a way to collect it.
A light version of the initiative to combat plastics has been approved. Considering that 400 tons of plastic are dumped on the coast every day, this is an issue that can’t wait any longer. The initiative had a vote of 45 for and just one against.
The bill bans the use of plastic straws across the country, has businesses put containers for customers to deposit single-use plastics, and stops state institutions from buying single-use plastics at all.
The project would allow the use of packaging with straws for the next three years, to allow for a transition and the use of juices already packaged with straws. Importers and distributors will have to make sure the bottles they use are manufactured with a percentage of recycled resin, generate less waste, or create recycling programs for their products. They will have to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags for purchases. They will also be encouraged to partner with municipalities in waste collection
Breaches of the law on the use of plastics would be punished with fines of up to 4.4 million colones.
The Ministry of Health will be in charge of an annual report on the reduction of contamination by single-use plastics.
At the beginning of the century, just 2% of first time mothers were 35 years old or older. This has doubled from the year 2000 to the year 2019. In 2018, 1,500 women over age 35 had their first child. This figure is 137% higher than in 2000.
The average age to have a first child is now 24, while it was 22 just 19 years ago. This change of two years is statistically significant because of how fast it happened and that it had remained the same for decades.
The number of women who became mothers before the age of 35 decreased by 20% from 2000-2019. At the beginning of the century, 8 out of 10 women were mothers by their 35th birthday. Now only 6 out of 10 are. Teen pregnancies fell from 18% to 10% in this time period.
Some of the reasons women are choosing to postpone motherhood include wanting to finish studies or travel before having kids. Those who postpone motherhood tend to live with a partner in cantons with higher social development.
There’s been a bunch of fake news circulating social media that says how there are so many turtles arriving to Ostional that there is no space for them on the beach so they end up on roads and near homes.
Authorities from the area have denounced these facts and corrected them. The truth is there has actually been a decrease in the arrival of turtles and the numbers vary greatly from one day to another.
The reason there are photos of turtles in strange places like porches of homes is because there are places on the beach without natural or man made borders in place. This allows the turtles to wander to nearby homes.
The authorities stress that the public should not get carried away with the fake news and come to see hundreds of turtles. There is actually an alert in the area due to heavy rains and visitors can stress the natural resources. Those who do come should always stay with a certified guide and follow the regulations such as staying for no more than 40 minutes and not using flash photography.
HPI (Halo Paranormal Investigation)’s paranormal hotline is very active. When I became a paranormal investigator in 2006, I created the paranormal hotline. The hotline number is merely my cell phone number. My cell phone number is plastered all over the Internet. I receive calls from all around the world and the caller’s topics can be bizarre and strange. When the caller is calling me from a faraway location, the only thing I can provide the caller is advice on how to deal with his or her paranormal problem. Some of the reports are quite unusual and when they deal with high strangeness, I usually document those calls. Here are some examples of my paranormal hotline calls:
THE SANITIZER
Paranormal Hotline Call: 9/26/2019, Time: 11:06 a.m. – Call from Hyde Park – South Central Los Angeles. Caller identifies himself as D-Zone. D-Zone makes claim that there is a ghost that is seen in the Hyde Park area that wears a black turtleneck, black pants, black trench coat, black gloves, black brimmed fedora hat. D-Zone says that when he was in the Hyde Park area, the entity snuck up behind him with two guns pointing at his head. The entity vanished after frightening D-Zone. D-Zone says that he was so scared after this incident, that his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. D-Zone mentioned to his parents on what he saw and experienced. D-Zone was told by his father, that he was describing a character in that part of the neighborhood known as The Sanitizer. D-Zone’s father says The Sanitizer was a known drug dealer and part time hit man for the mob. The Sanitizer was working Hyde Park in the early 70s. The Sanitizer was always known to wear dark clothing, gloves, trench coat and black fedora hat, that was his trademark. The Sanitizer dealt heroin on the streets of South Central and when his rivals got in his way, he was known to squash the competition with his fire power. That is where he obtained his nickname The Sanitizer. D-Zone says that he has a friend that also came in contact with The Sanitizer. It happened on Crenshaw Blvd. D-Zone’s friend was driving his vehicle down Crenshaw, when all of a sudden the radio started playing Superfly by Curtis Mayfield, as heard here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cmo6MRYf5g D-Zone’s friend could not figure out how his radio jumped to another station and this song was blaring out from his vehicle. As D-Zone’s friend was looking for a place to park, he looked to his left and saw The Sanitizer floating in the air with his guns drawn. It startled D-Zone’s friend so much he crashed into another parked vehicle. When this happened, he looked over to his left and this time The Sanitizer was no longer there. D-Zone’s father said The Sanitizer was a big fan of Curtis Mayfield and raved about the Superfly movie. The Sanitizer would also mimick the persona of Superfly. The Sanitizer was killed on the streets of South Central over a drug deal that went bad. According to D-Zone, his spirit is not at rest and wants HPI to travel to South Central to investigate. HPI declined this case and is looking for a Los Angeles paranormal team to investigate this very strange paranormal situation.
Artist Thomas Ahearn Depiction of The Sanitizer:
GREEN PARROT SALOON – GOLDFIELD, NEVADA One of my guest paranormal investigators named Casey Saumure gave me a nice tip. She has learned that the Green Parrot Saloon in Goldfield, Nevada is haunted. Well, the penny bar inside this establishment is haunted for sure. I had to do some research and found out the Lady in Green at times is seen sitting at the bar when no one is around. When you approach the Lady in Green she will simply give you a slight smile and then vanish. Some comments I found about this bar on the internet. From Unknown: “This was my uncle’s bar back in the early 60’s. If you look in the window you can still see the penny bar. There used to be a motel in the back. The green parrot was Birdie- she would greet everyone who came in.” Added note: Found comments that disembodied footsteps are sometimes heard and sometimes the song Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash is heard. No one knows where the music is coming from.
June Reynolds says: We came across this place by accident, we stayed in the motel and had a drink in the bar that was covered in coins. The people were so nice and we bought everyone a drink. It was 1989 and it was like going back in time, we felt like we were in the 1940s. It was weird and seemed like another life time ago. A man at this bar gave me a live bullet. I have kept this bullet for a lucky charm for years. A friend said he will take the gun powder out of it and when I looked for it to give to my friend, it disappeared and I have not seen that bullet since.
THE PHANTOM MILKMAN – FRESNO, CA
Paranormal Hotline Call: 8:47 a.m. Date: 10/4/2019 – Received a phone call from Staci Lineman. This is Staci’s story: Along Simpson Street in Fresno, in the early morning hours, around 4am to 5am, a Phantom Milkman is seen. Staci Lineman was staying with her brother on Simpson Street in Fresno for about 3 weeks. The year was 1993. On one particular morning, as she was getting up to go jogging, she saw a large truck/van that had the words “Producers Milk”. Staci thought this was quite odd, she remembered milk trucks when she was a little girl. Staci is now a full grown adult in her 60s and this vintage milk truck with its lights on, was in front of the house. The first thing Staci thought was that possibly this was a collector’s truck that is going to be restored to its former glory. As Staci watched, she actually sees a milk man carrying empty milk bottles back to the truck. As the milkman enters the truck, the whole truck started vanishing. Staci was floored at what she just saw. Staci told her brother and 3 days later, Staci and her brother stepped outside of their house and saw the milk truck again and in the driver’s window they could see the milk man, his face appeared to be glowing. The truck just melted away into nothingness. Staci and her brother attempted a few more times of going outside of the house to see if they see the ghostly milk truck and milkman. They have not seen it since.
The ICT Directive has returned concessions at the Papagayo Tourist Pole to Monte del Barco de Aldessa, something the Tourism Minister was opposed to doing. She claims the other six members who voted were not aligned with the technical and legal criteria to return the permits.
The ICT cancelled the concessionaire’s permits last July. The vote to reinstate them was six in favor and one against. The Tourism Minister was the only one against it. She criticized the others on the Board for reversing their original decision.
Most agree that it’s odd that after so many years not even the first part of the project has been completed. Still, there is a legal process in the Papagayo Council to regulate any breaches of contract in 30-day terms to be corrected.
The development was planned to include two beach hotels, a golf course, beach club, condos, villas, a marina and a small town. It is possible that Aldesa will sell part of the project concession to European investors.
Yesterday morning, there was a ceremony to recognize the best of last year’s Festival of Light, the annual Christmas festival in the capital. The ceremony was held in front of La Soledad Church.
In remembering the most brilliant floats and bands from last year, we are reminded that this year’s Christmas season is upon us. The Magic World carriage presented by the Children’s Museum was awarded most brilliant, most original, and best childish effect in the float category. The Café Tarrazú Band won the most shining. Custodio Calvo International Fireworks won for the best fireworks show.
All of the colorful floats and impressive musical acts that lined the main streets of the city filled it with light and homes across the country took part in the fantasy by watching it on television. The 2019 edition will be on December 14.
Costa Rica’s María José Vargas signed her first professional cycling contract when she was 21, two years ago. It was something the young woman from Miramar in Puntarenas dreamed of as a teenager.
She can now be considered a professional cyclist. She has won medal after medal, moved to Mexico to train with the Swapit-Agolico Cycling Pro Team, a first-line group, competed in World Tour races and is now looking forward to the Olympics.
She participated in the Managua 2017 Central American Games taking home the gold medal for Costa Rica. That was her first step on the Olympic cycle. She then went to the Central American and Caribbean Barranquilla 2018 and took sixth place.
She doesn’t believe it was good luck that got her to where she is as she accredits it more to the hard work she put in. She has an incredibly strong confidence and discipline and love for the sport.
A group of people intended to place explosives 300 meters from a National Park on Independence Day, September 15. The group was dismantled by a joint force including the OIJ, Prosecutor’s Office, and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, on Tuesday.
The police intervened a bus from the southern zone at which point they seized two explosive devices with timers, similar to those placed in front of Teletica but even more dangerous because of the use of shrapnel which is meant to cause injuries or death.
The investigation that showed the explosive material was to be transferred by bus led to involving the Ministry of Public Security and the Drug Control Police to stop the bus and intervene. The Special Intervention Unit also participated as they are the specialists in explosive devices.
Agents found out in which house the devices were produced. Suspects were captured on Tuesday in different parts of the country. They are suspected of possession of explosive devices or fire or explosion offenses.
An international conference on Inter-Cultural Philosophy was held some years back in Costa Rica. Representatives from Korea, Taiwan, Congo, Tunisia, Germany, Austria and much of Central and South America, convened in order to share perspectives on the task of living together in the age of globalization and all its attendant problems…global warming, migration, cultural intolerance, terrorism of various sorts, economical crises, etc.
That sounds like “an admirable task and an ingeniously devised approach,” but the philosophical premises behind inter-national and inter-cultural constructions have become invalid and non-viable.
The prefix ‘inter’ means between. Therefore the basic supposition of any word that begins with ‘inter’ is of the primacy and equality of separate things, whether nation-states or cultures. At best, the prefix ‘inter’ is meant to imply a bridge between two or more divided categories.
This isn’t an abstract philosophical point. The organizer of the conference, Gerardo Mora, emphatically stated: “Globalization is destroying particular cultures.” The underlying aim of intercultural philosophy, he said, is to “protect particular cultures in the world.”
Given the fragmentary thinking inherent in that goal, it’s fair to ask, is the intercultural philosophical approach contributing to the erosion of cultures? More to the point, does globalization have to produce homogenization? And why do “particular cultures” need to be “protected” in any case?
The title of the conference: “Living together: Problems and possibilities in today’s world–an intercultural approximation,” managed to be both evocative and arcane. It begins with an inviting potential, but the added clause–“an intercultural approximation”—seems superfluous and unclear.
Inter-Cultural Philosophy is defined as “the endeavor to give expression to the many voices of philosophy in their respective cultural contexts.” (Italics mine.) As such, it raises a fundamental question: Is philosophy dependent on cultural context? Indeed, is it philosophy at all when cultural contexts are given primacy?
The root meaning of philosophy is the love of wisdom, which has at its core the quest for truth. To place philosophy within cultural contexts is to maintain that truth (even with a small ‘t’) is relative. And if truth is relative, then there is no such thing.
That doesn’t mean truth is absolute, since absolutism is merely the flipside of relativism. It simply means that insight arises from a deeper source, and therefore speaks to a dimension beyond particular cultures, irrespective of language, tradition or background.
If philosophy is solely, or even primarily a product of the cultures that give rise to it, then all claims of universality are false and futile. In that case, purported insights into the human condition, not to mention our ever-elusive and supposedly immutable ‘human nature,’ are illusory and worthless. Clearly, that isn’t the case, as great literature, art, music and philosophy from all lands attest.
Certainly we’re largely the products of our cultures and times, but they don’t necessarily determine us. So-called mystical experiencing is essentially the same across cultures and ages. And one of the main tasks of philosophy in my view is to demystify ‘mystical experience.’
When words, images, memories, associations and knowledge cease operating, even for a few moments in the fully alert human brain, one is beyond culture and time.
In other words, a deeply quiet mind has spontaneously stepped out of the context and content of cultural conditioning. Far from being a terrifying experience, as most people imagine it, there is unbounded peace and joy in such a state of being, which is available to all human beings.
Why don’t we live that way now? Is it because humans are social animals, and to grow into a human being requires inwardly standing alone? Very few people see the complete necessity of standing alone, but freedom–liberating ourselves from the shackles of culture and conditioning—is not possible if we don’t.
Going beyond our particular cultures, one’s mind is genuinely creative, and contributes to the creation of a new kind of culture, a true, urgently necessary global civilization.
Particular cultures, based on tradition, are things of the human past. Paradoxically, they can retain meaning, if not coherence, to the degree that free individuals infuse them with insights into the whole of humanity.
Trying to preserve cultures in their particularity (the core aim of intercultural philosophy) only increases their fragmentation and erosion. That guarantees the attrition of indigenous and traditional cultures to the forces of globalization, with the loss of their richness and meanings for present and future peoples in the global civilization.
What are the sources of a new global culture, and what would it look like? It wouldn’t know the birth, buildup, decay and death of previous, particular cultures, because such a culture would be dying and being reborn in awakened individuals in every generation.
Wholeness has no accretion. In the culture of ever-renewing human beings, computers will contain the cumulative growth of knowledge, to which anyone will have access at any time.
The beliefs, traditions, rituals and mores of particular cultures—the rich and rapidly eroding soil of man’s past—will be sources of insight, and retain meaning to the degree that people have ongoing insight into them.
A 37-year-old lawyer was known as the founder of a Facebook page and Whatsapp groups that spread fake news, demanded that our president is a dictator who must be removed, and attacked LGBTI groups as well as the immigrant population from Nicaragua.
His page disappeared after being found out by the general public. Before being taken down, the page Costa Rican Resistance was followed by 27,386 people. Followers were also broken into five regional groups called battalions to connect with locals who also wanted to participate in the movement. He repeatedly promoted the use of violence on the page. He related violence to bravery. He believes that all citizens are called by the Constitution to organize civil forces.
The man is an administrative assistant at the embassy of Brazil. Officials from Brazil explained that he is a local employee who does not represent the country and whose profile does not meet the expectations of any embassy worker. He did not show up for work following these comments. He was arrested on Tuesday as a suspect of participating in the detonation of explosives in Teletica and Congress.
A 67-year-old foreigner from Italy was captured by police on Monday in the Juan Santamaría International Airport. They noticed suspicious movements and decided to check his luggage.
It was discovered that he was carrying over a kilo of cocaine, 1.215 grams, and large sums of money whose origin he couldn’t explain. There were 10,240 Euros and ₡250,000.
A kilo of cocaine costs over $68,000 in Italy as well as in Germany, where he was heading. The Drug Control Police took evidence and he was ordered by the Criminal Court of Alajuela to three months of preventive detention.
The Drug Control Police work in favor of the security of both nationals and foreigners. The Prosecutor’s Office has opened a case against the man for international drug trafficking.
For nearly three years, pundits in the mainstream media have mused and amused themselves with the question: What will this incompetent, chaos-generating president do when he is confronted with a real international crisis?
Well Trump fabricated one with another stupid phone call, this time with President Erdogan of Turkey. Betraying and abandoning America’s staunchest ally in the Middle East, the Kurds, this malevolent man opened the gates of hell on those long-suffering people.
He echoes what the devil itself would say as he rationalizes his perfidy: “They’re not angels.” Make no mistake, evil exists, and Trump channels it.
Americans are running on two opposing tracks, and a collision is inevitable. One track, the professional pundits of mainstream media, preaches to the choir in their own echo chamber, wishfully believing that they’re slowly cornering the sob. Perhaps they are, but that only makes him more dangerous.
The other track is the depressed and dispirited American people themselves. Having long given up on visionary leadership from Washington, they elected the warmongering Bush Junior, then were conned by the status quo loving Barack Obama, before turning to the wannabe tyrant Trump.
The American people as a whole are responsible for this hideous leader, not invasive Russian bots, or repulsive Republican hypocrites.
America’s arrangement with the Kurds was a true quid pro quo. A small number of American troops acted as a buffer for stateless Kurds in exchange for protection from enemies all around them. They were willing to do our dirty work against ISIS, which was grown in the putrid petri dish of Iraq after the Bush-Cheney invasion.
President Trump, angry that his “perfect” phone call with the president of Ukraine demanding dirt on the Bidens in exchange for military aid in their war against Russia became grounds for impeachment, retaliated by throwing a working quid pro quo to the dogs of war.
Trump gave new meaning to betrayal of allies, by allowing hundreds of thousands of Kurds to come under attack and making them flee for their lives. Erdogan pronounced, in Trumpian/Orwellian style, that his ethnic cleansing of the Kurds is a “a great day for civilization.”
This is what happens when UN peacekeeping falls to mercenaries and nationalists. This is what happens when the United States, the builder of the ‘international order,’ takes a wrecking ball to it.
The international order is history, and American leadership is dead. The United States will continue to project the enormity of its military power, but without any pretence about extending democracy, protecting human rights, and making progress toward the rule of international law.
Truth be told, the post-World War II international system had become a procrustean bed in an interconnected global society before Trump rose to the sewer’s surface with his “great and unmatched wisdom.” The question is, what, if anything, the can be done now?
To begin with, we need a non-theologized, non-psychologized philosophy of evil. Why does evil, a man-made phenomenon that can no longer be theologized or psychologized away, continue to rule and expand in this world?
Without self-knowing, which has always been and continues to be rare, darkness is an inevitable by-product of ‘higher thought,’ accumulating over generations. Since the beginning of modern man (about 100,000 years ago), the residue of tribalism, ignorance and hatred has congealed into collective intentionality in human consciousness.
That is, evil, and much philosophical and psychological work remains to be done to understand and dispel it.
Evil does not originate in any individual, but flows like electricity flows through copper through dividuals without character, people of immense moral weakness.
You can see this phenomenon exemplified in Trump, who is as completely ignorant of his motivations and conditioning as he is unempathetic of others. He literally doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he sure as hell doesn’t know what things are metaphysically pulling his strings.
Nothing attests to the spiritual bankruptcy of Christianity in America more than evangelical support of this venal, amoral, corrupt and narcissistic president.
Don’t conflate the word ‘metaphysical’ with ‘supernatural.’ There’s nothing supernatural about evil.
There is no cosmic battle between good and evil. There is God as immanence, but there is no personal God, as there is a personal devil. Demons are human things requiring the walking dead as vessels, and we need not fear human things.
In a culture saturated with darkness, we have to regularly ask ourselves: am I conduit? Conduits are people through whom collective darkness flows unimpeded, even as they’re certain they are their own persons.
To be self-knowing means seeing and remaining with hate as hate, or envy as envy, or any other negative trait as they arise within one, which shuts off the inner valve to collective darkness.
Then one is one’s own person, learning from the darkness that we all have within us, to one degree or another.
Local Governments, companies and institutions will participate in a congress designed to discuss how to create smart cities in Costa Rica. This is the third edition of the activity. It will be held on October 25 at the Hotel Real Intercontinental.
Some of the ideas on the discussion table include digital municipal procedures, video surveillance systems with artificial intelligence, smart led lights, sustainability, well-linked technology, and minimizing the effect of population growth on the environment.
“This congress is part of the corporate business strategy of leading the expansion and consolidation of the smart and sustainable cities concept in Costa Rica,” Grupo ICE, the company organizing the event, said in a statement.
There will be demonstrations, interviews, panels and success stories. The activity starts at 7:30 a.m. and tickets are available at the website www.ciudadesinteligentescostarica.com
Car agencies sold 342 electric models this year and expect to sell 497 next year, further accelerating the commercialization of this product. There will be new models in 2020. Additionally, there will be better financing conditions and an increase in the import of used units. Audi will bring us the first electric SUV in the country.
Danissa, Hyundai, BMW and Laudreni Auto-Autos Santa Elena are the companies selling electric vehicles, something that more and more people are interested in attaining, according to the president of the Costa Rican Association of Electric Mobility.
In 2020, we can expect less expensive models as well as greater variety in options. BYD will present three new models. Those who use electric cars do not have to pay the right of circulation or observe vehicle restrictions and they can use free parking spaces.
Three Costa Rican banks are offering special credit as of October 1 for those who wish to buy electric cars, taxis or buses. These lines of credit have low rates and high financing percentage, covering up to 90% of the vehicle. They can be paid off in 10 years instead of the normal 5.
Everyone aspires to win the “gordo navideño” lottery this time of year. One past winner, however, shared that the win comes with both positive and negative effects on one’s life and family.
The man who won ₡925 million in 2010 enjoyed traveling with his family to 16 countries. He bought a home and car for both himself and his daughter and opened up two boutique shops. He invested some of the money and helped a number of family members.
He was in the spotlight after winning. Everyone knew him as the guy who won the lottery. There were many attempts to scam him and extort the money. One was successful and the issue is still to be resolved in court. He has received death threats and had to advise his family to stay inside the house for fear that they would be harmed or kidnapped. He suffered a heart attack. His shop was shot twice. He considers his anxiety much higher now than when he was working class. He has been getting help in therapy.
He enjoys spending so much time with his family and getting to see his daughters grow up without having to leave to study and work. Still, he lives in fear. He and his family stayed in a hotel the first night for security. He also feels that he has lost the passion for the future that he felt while he was studying, which he abruptly stopped after winning the lottery.
Two Costa Rican tourists, Gloria Loría Rivas and Jasmine Rivas Morales, have been unable to get home from Chile amidst the violent protests that have broken out in the country over the cost of living.
They had been enjoying their trip to Chile for two weeks until they were alerted to demonstrations. They were unable to get to any touristic sites and they were affected by tear gas. They were also scared to see military tankers and soldiers in the streets.
Because of all this, they decided to change their flight to come home early. They were unable to get to the airport, however, because the Government enforced a strict curfew meaning they couldn’t leave their apartment.
They reached out to the embassy and the Foreign Ministry and were advised to change the trip again to Monday afternoon and leave very early in the morning to ensure they could get to the airport on time.
A fellow in Salem, Oregon came to my attention lately while talking with people in that capital city. He writes a personal blog variously called “Hinesight” or “Church of the Churchless.” In it he opines on everything from the over-abundance of acorns this year in his backyard, to the deepest questions of life.
He’s amusing when he writes about acorns, but is way out of his depth when he ridicules people who “believe that it’s possible to experience things as they are, not as how they seem.”
Parroting the party line of derivative neuroscience, this fellow asserts with complete confidence: “Our conscious awareness is just the tip of a vast unconscious iceberg where most of the brain’s neurological goings-on takes place. Modern neuroscience knows this.”
He doesn’t stop there however, pronouncing, “Each of us views reality through our own personal lens. All we can do is be as aware as possible of how we’re looking upon things, accepting that other people will see things in their own fashion.” Wouldn’t that be nice?
Such a view comports very well with the Western, especially American individualistic worldview, which has produced not only this social hellscape, but given rise to a narcissistic president with his finger on the nuclear button.
The notion that we “view reality through our own personal lens” also supports the illusion that we are our own unique individuals, which is the mindset of dividuals blindly adding to collective hatred, conflict, suffering and war.
When you first come upon the Grand Canyon, thought, which is based on previous experience, is shocked into stillness because the sight so overwhelms anything you’ve previously experienced.
This shows that the brain is capable of fresh perception, and doesn’t automatically “view reality through our personal lens.” Such moments of fresh, direct perception could occur in small ways every day if we made the space for them, allowing neural and emotional renewal.
So is there only darkness, and it’s negation in meditation in the rare individual? Or is there a cosmic intelligence that cares about the fate of potentially intelligent species such as humans?
A philosopher, also in Oregon, replied: “I think there might be a cosmic ‘caring’ or valuation of higher forms of mentality, but it is hard for me to imagine that there is significant caring about a particular intelligent species so infinitesimally localized in time and space.”
To my mind, the “particular species infinitesimally located in time and space“ idea doesn’t apply. Scale is irrelevant, since it’s a question of emergent consciousness over billions of years of random evolution in a universe imbued with consciousness from its inception.
Not just because potentially intelligent species are rare in the universe. Rather, because the cosmos is an expression of consciousness, and we humans, as a potentially intelligent species, are an expression of the cosmos.
In short, the cosmic mind, immanent God, or whatever term you prefer, doesn’t operate in terms of scale. Scale is irrelevant where consciousness is concerned, and therefore where potentially intelligent species such as Homo sapiens are concerned.
That doesn’t address my question of whether the intelligence that imbues the universe is indifferent to failing, potentially intelligent species such as Homo sapiens.
A friend and editor sent me a related essay that begins on the right note, before skating off into New Age self-deception.
“People have been writing about spiritual enlightenment for millennia, and still we remain collectively asleep. Believing such a shift is possible on a mass scale is childish and absurd. Right?”
Again is the mentality of scale, which is taken as a given. Perhaps inevitably, the author then indulges in wishful thinking by quoting one of the first and worst self-promoting New Age gurus, Eckhart Tolle:
“Without considering the Eastern world, my estimate is that at this time about ten percent of people in North America are already awakening…I am hopeful about humanity’s future, much more so now than when I wrote The Power of Now.”
It isn’t a matter of percentages, or “fast enough.” That’s the same old mindset. Tolle preaches a fantasy that’s merely the flipside of nihilism: “The transformation of consciousness is truly happening.”
The revolution in consciousness is not happening, and things are going from bad to worse, dark to darker. It’s true that more and more people intellectually know that a revolution in consciousness is essential. But they emotionally comfort themselves by believing that it has begun when it has not.
That doesn’t mean one gives up. But the fat lady is warming up, on our age at least. Forget scale; the macrocosm is enfolded within the microcosm of each one of us.
Jéssica Jiménez is Miss Costa Rica and is going on to try for Miss World. Although she is now a beauty pageant winner, she was not always confident in her looks. She suffered sexual abuse and had doubts about her physique.
She now hopes to inspire and empower young women and girls to use their imaginations to dream up futures different than what they know and not let any circumstances define them.
She has been a missionary for the Catholic church and young people since her teen years. She learned lesco to communicate with the deaf. She is a medical student. She’s started a project called The Magic of Dreams. There’s no doubt she has been changing the world and will continue to do so.
Jéssica knows that when she shines she allows others to shine. She fully intends to continue using her capacity to empower others. This will distinguish her from among 130 candidates for Miss World.
The Municipality of Escazú is hosting a job fair today in which 15 companies are offering 240 jobs. They are in diverse fields including language teachers, fiber optic technicians, sales consultants, cashiers, packers, forklift operators, and accountants.
This is the third edition of the event. It is being held until 3pm in the gymnasium of the Municipal Civic Center (formerly Country Day). Hundreds of candidates are expected to attend.
Each company and position has different requirements regarding experience and education. It is advised that interested candidates bring resumes both on a flash drive and printed.
The mayor of the canton, Arnoldo Barahona, takes the local government’s role in employment very seriously. He notes the unemployment problems suffered in the canton as the reason for events like these.
All these abbreviations look rather intimidating at first blush. However, it is better to know what you are dealing with. If you have a wish to try CBD, probably, you have heard something about it. The most common things are that CBD is cannabis or, to be more precise, it’s component. Some people call it ‘safe marijuana’. Therefore, the question is: “What is the ABC knowledge about CBD?”.
FACT 1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND THE ORIGIN
Being actively advertised via online media, or some other things like that, CBD remains a puzzle for many of us. The sudden popularity of it is not clear yet, but everyone can agree that this must be profitable for some people. Thereby, let us look through the roots of CBD.
Taking in the language of science, CBD is cannabidiol, which was discovered in 1940 and is seen as one of the basic elements that the cannabis plant contains. There exist about 113 cannabidiols that scientists are aware of, but CBS accounts for up to forty percent of the extract of the marijuana plant. The clinical researches that were held (including those, where people had to take CBD as a pill or just consume via cbd vape pen https://vapingdaily.com/vaporizers/weed-pens/best-cbd-vape-pens/ learn more) proved that CBD somehow deals with cognition, pain, movement disorders, and some other things.
To put it simpler, CBD is one of the two most prevalent active ingredients in the cannabis plant. CBD is usually included in medical marijuana because it cannot make you high, unlike THC (the second active ingredient) does. CBD is mostly produced from the hemp plant. Experts want to prove that the consumption of pure CBD is completely safe, but, as for now, we cannot claim this fact because of the lack of evidence.
FACT 2. THE LETTER OF THE LAW
In regard to the USA, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a structure, responsible for protecting the public health and providing people with safety concerning the food they eat and the drugs they take) does not allow to use CBD as medication and sell it freely. CBD is forbidden for treating many other diseases and the Administration expresses its concerns about the products for therapeutic use asserting to contain CBD. The FDA attempts to control the products that make medical claims about the effectiveness of CBD having no firm ground for it. Direct advertising of CBD is also forbidden.
FACT 3. EXCEPTION TO THE RULE
In 2018, the FDA approved the use of CBD for people older than 2 years old for treating the most severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome. That was done after 500 patients were studied and plenty of clinical trials were held.
FACT 4. VARIOUS WAYS OF CONSUMPTION
Nowadays there exist in a variety of ways to consume CBD. One of the most popular is the tincture. The other ways of using it that are also on the top are drinking water-soluble CBD beverages, inhaling CBD extract by using vaping CBD oil or eating CBD infused foods.
Talking about tincture, this is a concentrated plant extract, mixed with a liquid solvent in the way that you can take it in a precise dose, using a simple dropper. Most of the users simply drop CBD into their mouths; however, some of the users drop it into their food, for example. This makes the picture somehow connected to edibles. Anyway, CBD infused foods are becoming popular more and more. It happens because of the world’s trend. In the Netherlands, for example, it is a widely known practice. The most popular among foods are lattes, croissants, or other baked sweets.
FACT 5. REAP THE BENEFIT OF CBD
Talking about CBD and benefits might be difficult. However, if we look through all the possible ways to consume CBD discussed, we can find several advantages is in each of the ways. To begin with, we should tell you that tincture is one of the most popular methods because it uses a purer form of CBD than, for instance, vaping CBD oil. These help to minimize the possible risks of exposure to other components. If you take it under your tongue, it is also quickly absorbed through the skin; therefore, the effect is almost immediate, because it does not have to go through the digestive or respiratory system.
If you take CBD through a cbd vape pen, it makes you more relaxed and gives you the feeling of a certain freedom. It works just subconsciously and helps to get rid of extra stress and anxiety.
Eating CBD with foods is the way to be relaxed for a longer period of time. It takes time for CBD oil to get through the digestive system and it starts working later, lasting longer at the same time.
FACT 6. ALL COINS HAVE TWO SIDES
Looking through the benefits of different types of CBD usage, the question “What’s the punch line?” appears. So, it is time to talk about some negative sides of the habit. Using CBD vape has its risks as well. CBD extract for CBD pen usually contains some extra type of solute as is not soluble in the water. Mixing vaping cbd oil with polyethylene glycol or other things like (which, in many cases, are a carcinogen) puts you under certain risks.
The other important point is that you can never be sure whether a certain CBD (no matter whether it is for eating, in tincture form, or a vaping cbd oil) is pure or not, especially if you buy it on the black market. It is impossible to define, whether this particular CBD does not contain any THC elements and that is the catch, where you can get drug-addicted.
FACT 7. INTERACTION WITH OTHER MEDICINAL PRODUCTS
CBD, as well as some medicines or foods, could influence or get influenced by other medicines. The greatest impact of CBD is observed on the liver and the body’s ability to detoxify. It is proved that CBD can tamper with the interaction of the human organism and certain medicines. It might change the effect completely; make it stronger, or weaker. It is also unlikely that you use CBD while being pregnant, during the breastfeeding period, being a child, or suffering from Parkinson’s disease. There exist some more contraindications, some of which might be quite individual.
Therefore, if you want to start trying CBD, you have to consider all the pros and pros. If that is possible, better to consult an expert. However, it might be difficult as marijuana (and CBD respectively) remains an illegal substance.
According to reports emerging in the media, wanted Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes is contemplating on whether to join Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur during the January winter transfer window in a record deal.
The report further states that Christian Eriksen, whose contract with the Spurs will expire at the end of the season, is likely to be sold in January for a slash price in order to make funds available to sign Fernandes.
The Sporting playmaker, who is not new to being linked with giants of Europe, has formerly sparked interest in Real Madrid, but now reports claims Spurs will have to lock horns with Manchester United, who are also in signing the midfielder.
The reports from Portuguese outlet, however, confirmed that the North London side will reignite their interest in the midfielder when the transfer window opens on the 1st of January.
Tottenham will be looking to cash in on Denmark International, Eriksen, in January to make funds for his Portuguese replacement. The Dane player is most likely to be sold to Real Madrid, who has shown keen interest over the sport summer.
Eriksen, who joined Tottenham for £11 million from Ajax back in 2013, has netted 67 goals and provided a whooping 87 assists in 288 appearances for the English club since his arrival. He played a pivotal role for the Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they made it to the bet of the day game; the UEFA Champions League final.
Bruno Fernandes, who joined the Portuguese club back in 2017 for a reported fee of €8.5 million, became the highest goal-scoring midfielder in a single season with 31 goals and 18 assists last campaign. He has been able to register 55 goals and 43 assists for the Portuguese side in 119 appearances in all competitions.
His £65million price tag last summer made it impossible for European giants to secure his services. But Spurs could make a difference this time should they be able to sell Eriksen for a good sum comes winter.
Totenham Hotspur will take on Watford in their next Premier League game. Premier League predictions predict a 2-0 victory for the Spurs.
There are many beautiful legends that we hold dear to us within our culture. There are legends throughout the entire world but we know that what inspires religion and spirituality is beauty and what is truly beautiful is good. We are comforted in the arms of our families, our ancestors, our heritages, and the fables that come from them. Yet because they have often helped to shape history they are very real and very important worldwide matters of humanity. Here are a few legends waiting to be told and also a poem that I was inspired to write by these fables.
Chinese Zodiac The Chinese Zodiac was created in the time of the Jade emperor (He is the mystic ruler over Heaven).. There are twelve animals inside the zodiac in which to divine from. They are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The zodiac signs are determined by the year of your birth. Other elements of Chinese culture are also interpreted within these signs. These elements are earth, air, fire, water, metal and wood. Yet, there are also animal signs associated with other parts of the calendar. There is a month (called inner animals), day (called true animals) and hour (called secret animals).To determine your specific energies you would need to search the internet to find the appropriate website.
The Chinese zodiac is important because it contributes largely to Asian history and culture. Most spiritually driven persons will work on their soul and emotion by divining with astrology. These important elements composed together create a symphony of the soul and a chart to map the position of fate in your life. You would be lucky to figure out the destiny of your soul and unlucky to let such a powerful tool pass you by. There is nothing to lose by gaining intelligence except for ignorance.
Inari Fox The Inari Fox is a mythological fox from Japan. Inari Okami is the Japanese spirit of fertility, tea, rice, success and beauty. The Inari fox is popular in the Japanese Shinto religion. The Inari was also a widespread symbol of protection for warriors and sword smiths. The Inari has a familiar that reacts to its calls and is seen as pure white. This creature is called Kitsune, or fox.
The Kitsune are said to possess magical abilities and intelligence that improve with their age. This fox is a supernatural creature that lives in our world and is a close companion to the ancient peoples of Japan.
During these times these creatures were often compared to witches who had cats as companions and superstitious people believe that they were actually Japanese witch familiars.
Pekingese The Pekingese is a dog of Chinese origin. They can be found in every color. They are found as far back as the Tang Dynasty. They were originally only owned by royalty. If you stole this breed in this time of age, you would be put to death. They have a very long magical history. Over time they began to become popular inside of Buddhist temples and were often referred to as “demon chasers.” I have noticed myself that when my Pekingese feels scared at unknown noises she begins to bark, even one time I thought at something in my closet that I considered demonic. Special Note: I own a black Pekingese dog named Princess Hannah. She is my heart, along with my ½ Australian Terrier ½ Yorkshire Terrier named Story.
This dog is also known as a “lion dog” because of the appearance of the long hair and snout nosed face. Lion were also very popular as statue gargoyles a protector and so like the Pekingese. There is a creation myth for the Pekingese and it happens like this: A lion and a butterfly fell in love with each other yet their sizes were hard to overcome. They went to a Buddha and asked for his help. In turn he turned them into a Pekingese. Maybe this is what happened after they kissed?
I am inspired by the world of the spirit because it connects to us each day. If we could feel the world of the spirit all around us there would be no such thing as magic. If there was no magic, love would also not exist. Without love the world will lose its meaning, purpose and beauty.
Within the evolution of our species has also come the evolution of our souls and we are only growing into more advanced and spiritual beings with each passing day and night. That is why I am chasing the moon down…and recording and analyzing all my dreams…and letting my soul have its purpose…to be at peace with the world once and for all.
Chasing the Moon
A poem by Deanna
I am a field wide open
Wheat to be harvested, vulnerable
Wild, tender, fragile and frozen
Dew drops glisten in the moonlight
Inari leading me on chasing ghosts
Away making way for fall time sprites
Messengers of a new year and seeds sown for the season
Pure white winter cycles an enchanted slumber
Within the death is sown the dreams of December
Yet, I find myself still chasing the moon down.
Seeking the truth of the meaning to life
Falling stars as I am sleeping fall onto me like a crown
And then I understand that I am one
With the Earth, and the streams, the meadows
The stars like seeds are me and I am everyone…
There is some disagreement about the project to revive trawling and whether or not it is unconstitutional. Incopesca’s study to make the technique feasible is not enough, according to the State’s lawyer.
The Attorney General’s Office warned deputies that there are vices of unconstitutionality in the project. The State lawyer’s pronouncement was issued as a legal opinion on October 8th before a consultation of the PAC.
The proposal envisions a way to revive the giving of permits to semi-industrial vessels to trawl for shrimp. Since 2013, the renewal and issuance of such licenses has been prohibited because trawling causes severe damage to the environment by catching a great number of species apart from the shrimp.
The Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture is carrying out a study to ensure sustainability of the activity and demonstrate reduced bycatch of other species. Some say other studies are also needed, such as on the socioeconomic impact of the activity.
The National Learning Institute is offering over 280 courses that are both available from home and free. This unbelievable offer is part of a plan to help the public get access to skills that will help them find work.
Some of the options include database administrator, assistant waiter, groomer, tourist host, forklift operator, dishwasher, video game creator, writing and editing, fast food employee, milkshake maker, electrician, stylist, fiber optic installer, manager, ironer, head chef, baker, and painter.
It seems there is something for everyone. Some of the courses require previous education but many do not. Many are open to people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The INA and Claro work together to bring us these courses and show that the public and private sector can come together for the benefit of the public. To get more information on the courses available, check out capacitateparaelempleo.org and ina.ac.cr.
The Coast Guard has referred 20 people to the Prosecutor’s Office for illegal fishing. Additionally, they seized 15 boats from the Gulf of Nicoya which is off limits to fishermen every October.
The fishing ban is meant to give the species a chance to repopulate. That will make for a better year for the 15,000 families that depend on fishing in the area. They are given subsidies from IMAS for the month they are unable to work.
Still, many try to get away with the restricted activity. When fishing organizations or people interested in the gulf recovering see them, they call the Coast Guard to report the poachers.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard went to stop a boat and it fled away even throwing objects at the officials and screaming death threats at them. The boat overturned and another fishermen’s boat came to help them escape. They were brought to the Prosecutor’s Office for illegal fishing and attacks against the officers.
The CCSS has asked the United Arab Emirates to donate a new hospital in Limón, a proposal that the country is seriously considering. Related negotiations have been taking place in both countries.
The project has an estimated cost of over $200 million. The UAE is the country that donates the most in world aid. In 2016, it gave $4,240 million in aid, the equivalent of 1.21% of its GDP.
The idea is to deliver a center in turnkey mode, in other words the whole project would be managed and completed by the UAE. Officials from the UAE have, however, asked for Costa Rica to provide equipment.
Technical studies are being carried out for the new hospital that would serve a population of over 232,000 people. It would be further from the sea than the current one because the saline damages medical equipment. It would also have more specialties to avoid sending so many people to San Jose.
Choosing a viable career is easier than ever, thanks to all the information we have available at our fingertips. It’s no longer challenging to verify that you’re walking into a field that can support you for the next few decades, and we’ve also seen the rise of various new careers that require entirely new types of specialists. The global job market is in a great state right now, and if you’re currently at a stage in your life where you’re choosing your first career – or you want to leave your current one behind – you have lots of options available.
Some require a significant investment in terms of time or practice though, and you should align that with your current life situation. Changing your career can happen at most stages of your life, but not every career path is a viable choice for someone in their 50s.
1. Software Development
A field that saw a major boom a few decades ago, and is still going strong, is software development. There are no prospects that software development will become an obsolete profession anytime soon, not even with the rise of AI and automation technologies. In fact, many speculate that the new era of automation will bring about an even heavier requirement for software developers and other IT specialists, as all those systems will need someone to develop them further and maintain them. Entering the workforce from this angle is a very viable option right now.
2. Finance
Another field with strong future prospects, the world of finance has evolved a lot over the last couple of decades, mainly thanks to the various online advancements we’ve seen. Cryptocurrencies are just one example of this, and they’re not even the most interesting one right now. Fintech is a sector that’s been growing at a startling rate, and there are many reasons to believe that this growth will continue in the near future as well. The sector is also in constant need of experienced professionals who know how to navigate it properly, and those with a strong technological background can see particularly good results.
3. Medicine
The need for medical services is something else that will never go away as long as humans exist in the first place. And the field has evolved quite a bit recently, with many new paths branching out from the main ones. You can do various kinds of work in the medical sector that will always be in high demand, and the best part is, it’s relatively easy to jump from one subfield to another if you’ve got the qualifications. This is a field with significant growth potential, and there are many options for gaining the right knowledge and experience needed to progress as well. Look into a DNP program if you want something that doesn’t involve directly being a physician, but will still put you in a good position to help others.
4. Sales
Finance and sales have always been tightly related, and it should be no surprise to anyone that this sector is also going through a major period of growth. There’s a lot to be said about the explosion in interest in the sales sector in recent decades, and we’ve seen an interesting evolution in this field in terms of how sales professionals approach their potential customers, and how the typical interaction is handled. Sales specialists can now focus much better on viable leads thanks to advances in AI and other similar sectors that have made their work easier and more streamlined.
5. Engineering
Engineering is a pretty broad field, but there is no shortage of fields where it can be applied. From oil rigs, to computers and aerospace, there are many types of engineering degrees and positions that can be very lucrative in the long run and will give you a viable set of skills in your life in general. Of course, there is also the stereotype associated with engineering studies – they are not exactly simple and straightforward, and require a specific mindset to get the job done right. But if you’ve got a knack for mathematics and solving problems, this is a field you should definitely look into.
6. Marketing
Another sector that has been impacted heavily by the recent growth of AI and related technologies, marketing is a very rapidly evolving field right now, and there are many signs indicating that it will keep growing in popularity in the coming years too. Companies need more and more services of this type, and the complexity of the average marketing campaign has grown significantly. Targeting the right customers, reaching out to them properly, and engaging them over a longer period is becoming more and more important, but also more accessible, thanks to the many solutions that the market offers right now.
7. Pharmaceuticals
If you like the idea of working in medicine but don’t enjoy working with patients directly, then perhaps pharmaceuticals would be a better field for you. It offers a great range of opportunities for research and development, and is another field where those with a strong technological inclination can see good results and viable synergy opportunities. This is a field of study that can be quite stressful in terms of educational requirements, though. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself going through a similar workload as some people studying medicine – this is a job that comes with a lot of responsibility, after all.
8. Aviation
We already touched on this above in the engineering section, but it’s something that deserves its own mention. Aviation is a field that’s seeing a lot of growth right now, as many companies are trying to revolutionize the sector and come up with the next best thing. At the same time, regulations around safety and other similar points are tightening, requiring a growing number of competent specialists who can guide companies on the right track. It’s a field that can be difficult to get into, but the long-term development prospects are not to be underestimated.
9. Event Planning
Do you have a knack for logistics? Then event planning might be right up your alley, especially if you live in a more populated area with lots of potential customers. This is a surprisingly difficult job to do right, and there’s a reason many people prefer to leave it in the hands of professionals who know what they are doing instead of attempting it themselves. Proper event planning requires significant coordination skills, and you must also be a communicative person with the ability to resolve conflicts as quickly and professionally as possible. Last but not least, this job can also come with a great deal of stress attached, which you should not underestimate.
10. Penetration Testing
Have you ever dreamed of being a hacker? What if we told you that it’s possible to work as one and get paid for it – and it’s all legal too? The job of a penetration tester is to probe the security of a company and check if there are any obvious holes left open. It’s a difficult job that involves some significant technical challenges, and requires an expert understanding of various types of technologies, security protocols, and operating systems. It also requires a charming smile in many cases – penetration testing is as much about social engineering as it is about overcoming technological barriers.
11. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy remains a controversial topic in many parts of the world, with some major governments announcing their intention to ramp down their reactors over the next couple of decades, and phase them out completely. And yet, it remains a popular source of energy in many places, and many countries continue to invest significant resources into developing this field further. It’s exciting, challenging, and highly lucrative for those who know what they are doing. And it will very likely be at the forefront of some major developments in the near future.
12. Statistics
It might be strange to see statistics mentioned as a viable field for building a career in these days, with the heavy use of machine learning in many sectors. But that’s exactly the point – just because we’ve figured out how to automate statistical analysis to a great extent doesn’t mean that there is no longer a need for human specialists with a deep understanding of the field anymore. Quite on the contrary, the rise of AI and machine learning has created many new opportunities for people with a knack for statistics, and this is a field that can allow you to earn a lot of money if you find a job at the right company.
It’s also another field that works very well when combined with technology, especially programming skills. Learning how to work on your own ML models can be very beneficial in statistical analysis, even if you’re capable of doing some of that work yourself already.
13. Mathematics
On a related note, mathematics is hotter than ever, and there is a heavy demand for qualified specialists in the market right now. However, this is a highly divided field. Those with great skills tend to have a very easy time finding permanent employment, and are in high demand. But just a little below that level, we have the average specialists, who are often struggling to find work at all, let alone maintain a position.
The thing about mathematics is that it’s a highly competitive field, and companies are pretty much universally looking for the cream of the crop. There’s very little room in the market for anyone beneath that level, which can be problematic for those who discover that their abilities are not top notch too late in their education. Plan ahead if you want to go down this path, but also remember that it can be highly lucrative for a person with the right mindset.
14. Real Estate
Real estate is another field that will always be in demand, and there is no reason to believe that this will change anytime soon. People will always need a place to live, and the way this market works in most parts of the world means that there will always be a place for those who know how to buy and sell, and close deals smoothly. Real estate agents are in high demand in some parts of the world right now, and that demand will likely not go down anytime soon. In fact, as some areas are developed more heavily, we’re likely going to see a rise in attention towards the job of the real estate agent, with more and more people needing their services. Make sure you’re on the right side of the fence when that happens, if you believe that you have viable skills for that.
15. Agriculture
Agriculture is going through major developments right now, as we’re starting to wake up to the need for a more scientific approach to the field. There is still a lot of work to be done here, though, so don’t think that there is no room for newcomers. This is a field that combines the expertise of people from multiple different areas – farming, computers, navigation, automotive, and more. You never know when you might have the right set of skills needed to push the field forward, and you should not underestimate the potential of agriculture as a viable long-term career path. Of course, this also depends on where you live. Some countries definitely don’t offer any attractive development opportunities to agricultural specialists operating in them.
Stability is the main concern of many people looking for a job these days. And it’s not hard to see why – the market has shifted significantly in some areas in this regard, and we’re starting to see many professionals with long-running experience losing their jobs because they are suddenly obsolete in the new era. It’s important to pay attention to these trends, and know which fields are least likely to be subject to this in the future. Thankfully, the writing is already on the wall for most lines of work available today.
