R A I D E R L E G E N D
Driver: Lewis Hamilton
Car: Mercedes Formula 1
Track: Bahrain International Circuit
Pos: 1st
Time: 1:32:03.897
Pts.: 25
Hamilton won his record 8th world title race and extends his record wins to 96. As I watched highlights of the race, I was reminded of car races featured on ABC Wide World of Sports as a child of the 70's. Seeing Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen go at it down the stretch was classic race car competition with skilled professionals behind the wheel.
Tai Chi seeks to help the student establish himself in his Tan Tien, or Chi center. It is at this point that we are one with the universe and can draw upon all of the energy and love of the Tao. This is the unending source of love that allows the Tai Chi person continuously to give of his love and compassion.
They do not believe in humility, but always try to be first. This is certain death
In any form of competition, only one person can be the first. All the others who strive and compete must be losers. This is a terrible waste of resources and energy. And it is certain death' because conflict and competition are a sign of separation from others and from one's own nature. If everyone co-operated and harmonized their efforts and talents, all would be winners. Humility is the renunciation of the desire to be first.
Mercy brings victory in battle and strength in defense
If you are having an argument with someone who feels deep love towards you, it is not easy to remain angry with them. My wife always wins arguments with me because I can always see the love in her eyes. Thus, mercy (compassionate love) brings her victory. And, in defense, love gives strength. A person will find the strength to sacrifice, even his life, in order to protect those whom he loves.
It is the means by which heaven saves and guards
This deeply felt love for all things that lies at the center of us all is the means by which the Tao guides us upon our journey to Oneness. It is the essence of the Tai Chi person's life and his only way of helping the world. v67
A good soldier is not violent
It is the soldier who must pay for the conflict between peoples. To be violent only increases the chances that conflict will develop. Thus the Tai Chi person, trained in self-defense, does all that he can to avoid conflict by sustaining within him the qualities of non-violence and non-aggression.
A good fighter is not angry
When all the ways to avoid conflict have been exhausted and the Tai Chi person must defend himself, he must maintain his tranquility and compassion during the struggle. Once control of the emotions is lost, it will be impossible to concentrate and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances will vanish. The Tai Chi person only does the bare minimum in order to protect himself and his health. Since he does not lust after victory or fame, self-preservation is all that is required. But to become angry is to lose this restraint.
A good winner is not vengeful
Winning causes resentment and bitterness in the loser. To be vengeful in victory only increases this resentment which, in turn, increases the chances that the conflict will be renewed at a later time.
A good employer is humble
To use power, whether financial or physical (or political), to force others to your will, or to lord it over them, causes a feeling of separation and arouses resistance. Power used with humility and for the benefit of all brings forth feelings of love and respect.
This is known as the virtue of not striving
Non-competition is essential if one wishes to be one with others and to avoid conflict in life. v68
Opposites cannot be separated. There cannot be high without low, good without evil, rich without poor. Tai Chi teaches the student to avoid extremes in life; not to go too far and get the opposite of what he seeks. By not raising himself up on his toes, the student cannot be cast down. By not being strong and forceful, he cannot become tired and spent. By not being held high in the opinions of others, he need not worry about being cast down. The Tai Chi person seeks the middle point between opposites. In this middle point, neither of the opposites dominates the other. It is a place without high or low, good or bad, success or failure. In other words, it is a place of harmony. v36
He who can hold to his center passes through trouble untouched and unharmed. v34
He who knows he has enough is rich. v33
Be an example to the world.
Billion Dollar Industry: Moran Bill enables college athletes to profit off of likeness. Its a beginning that will hopefully lead to a share of overall NCAA sports profits going toward the athletes. These young, talented individuals continue to be taken advantage of financially by a wealthy organization comprised of professional hucksters.
If you ask me, the federal government should step in and force these non-profit schemers to put aside monies for every athlete's post-collegiate endeavor; perhaps putting money into an earning trust.
The NCAA has been tax-exempt since 1956. They must answer to somebody for their actions of excessive greed; for their neglect and exploitation of those young adults under their care. Whatever happened to "it takes a village?" When the village elders personally pocket profits made off children, as opposed to reinvesting those profits into children's futures outside the village, change is necessary. Instead of the village raising the child, its robbing the child blind of his/her youthful talent and marketability.
Names, Images and Likenesses Matter
The old adage that student athletes on scholarship are getting a free education just doesn't wash against profit distribution stains on the pockets of collegiate administrators. Many student athletes are cheated out of an education when colleges place success of their sports programs over an athlete's scholastic studies. The lesson becomes one of an economic nature, but with no guarantees; "dig first, money later."
quote from the movie The Count of Monte Cristo
If you wanna see what greed and privilege look like under the hood, just browse online for information about unpaid student athletes and NCAA earnings and wealth. The village is being run by pimps. Straight Cash Homey!
The NCAA brings in a billion dollars a year, here's why it refuses to pay it's athletes
Headline: - Atlanta spa shooting suspect's 'bad day' defense and America's sexualized racism problem - by Nancy Wang Yuen
Tuesday, six Asian women were shot dead at three spas in the Atlanta area. Two other victims, a white man and a white woman, were also killed. Investigators said the white male suspect told them that he has a "sex addiction" and targeted the spas to "take out that temptation."
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Nancy Wang Yuen has written an article addressing the problem of hyper-sexualized racism in America. It is an educational piece of journalism that brings to light the historical mistreatment and racist denigration of Asian women in western society.
When Nancy discusses the hurt she felt from a white Georgian male shouting "me so horny" and "me love you long time" at her in Atlanta's airport, she opens a Pandora's box of abusive behavior and victimization Asian women in America have been subject to far too long. In today's "Me Too" era, it's time we address this hurtful form of racist behavior disguising itself as a complimentary gesture and/or come on.
Many American men like myself, watching the Vietnamese hooker scene from the 1987 film "Full Metal Jacket," were young, innocent consumers of a war movie, unaware it was "part of a long history of cultural depictions of Asian women as prostitutes." When popular music artists dubbed the hooker's voice into songs featuring lines from the movie (Me so horny/Me love you long time) it heightened the hypersexualized racism toward Asian women.
I myself, must own up to the fact that those songs played a small part in how I began viewing "Some" Asian women at that time. I never thought of my views as anything more than an awakened awareness of the sexuality of Asian women. Unfortunately, not all American men are willing to separate the antics of a fictionalized cheap hooker from a beautiful, respectful lady of like culture or race.
We can partly blame American stereotypes and Hollywood, but much of the burden rests on an individual's upbringing and exposure to different cultures, as well as, education. There was a time, not long ago, that white men caught dating African-American women were ostracized, and both charged with a criminal act against society. During that time, African-American women were depicted by white society as low-life, dirty, evil, diseased, witchcraft-voodoo women who preyed on good white men. These lies (and laws) were meant to frighten young white males away from women of color and chase them into the waiting arms of so-called soul-saving white women. And more times than not it was the women of color who needed saving from the white wolf.
Our society is changing, but not fast enough. The six Asian women who died at the hands of a white male shooter will not see a world where all women are treated with kindness and respect. We owe it to them and all victims of sexist violence to remove the stereotypes that lead to abuse of women and continue to change our perceptions of women and race.
Today I removed an old post that shared my thoughts and memories of the "Me so horney/Me love you long time" film scene and music.
We must be accountable as a society and protective of our most vulnerable. If one is victimized, then all are victimized. And the one could be your mother, sister or daughter.
Prayers for the 8 victims and their families
One step forward, two steps back. So far this offseason the Raiders have decimated what was the fifth best offensive line in the league and the strength of their offense last season. Yesterday, 3x pro bowl center Rodney Hudson joined the exodus of Raiders O-Linemen taking their talents elsewhere in 2021. So what the heck is going on with this "Leaving Las Vegas" theme show?
In my estimation, Coach John Gruden and company have failed miserably so far this offseason. I thought letting WR Nelson Agholor sign elsewhere was indication of productive players being expendable. Now seeing the fourth of five O-Linemen leave, with no foreseeable plan to replace their high-caliber talent is downright treasonous.
Maybe the Raiders are banking on replacing Derek Carr with a Russell Wilson type quarterback who scrambles to make things happen. Because as it stands, Carr, or any Raiders pocket passing QB, is in for a season that will require mobility and arm strength to get the ball to receivers.
The Raiders picked up veteran WR John Brown from the Buffalo Bills. I guess he was okay in Buffalo, until injuries and Stefon Diggs came to the party.
On defense the Raiders made a monster splash picking up pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
And it's now Officially Free Agency Season!
