CityHermit!

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2155264/dont-mention-trade-war-what-china-doesnt-want-people-know-its "“When you report a fall in the stock market index or a weakening in the yuan’s exchange rate, you can’t use ‘trade war’ in your headline,” one source with an official Chinese media outlet, who declined to be named, said." "China’s Ministry of Commerce on Thursday night issued a statement defending itself, arguing that its trade surplus with the US was not its fault and denying that it had stolen technology from the US or that it had forced foreign companies to transfer their technology." You don't say?

Xi Jinping is currently the president of China, chairman of the Central Military Commission, and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. To have one position is already very influential, let alone to have all three. More recently he has been preparing for the possibility of serving as president beyond the 2 term limit normally followed, and has also inserted his unique philosophy into the Chinese constitution thereby further ensuring his legacy and cementing this already expansive influence. Though the world may be drawn to the like of Trump and Putin in current events, Xi has the potential to remain in power longer than these two assuming they abide by term limits in their respective countries, and therefore he will be a persona to consider at least during the 2020s if not later. As the son of Xi Zhongxun, a founding Chinese communist revolutionary, he holds the status of a "princeling". He has a varied background of activity ranging from physical labor during the Cultural Revolution to Chemical Engineering as per his educational background. In his work leading up to his rise he has been to a number of provinces and probably has a solid understanding of the modern Chinese nation from firsthand view. At a time when he was more obscure he also visited the US and stayed with an American family in Iowa, thereby having some experience viewing the US firsthand as well. His current position is also bolstered by a level of charisma that may almost be described as a cult of personality, at least in as far as such a condition cannot be challenged publicly by Chinese citizens without reprisal. Still, he is a force to be reckoned with in Chinese politics. Given the voluminous nature of the Talk Trump thread I only thought it would be appropriate to have a thread for Xi as well. I would add plenty more myself even if no one else does given more time and research. Having a personal interest in geopolitics and international relations, as well as Taoism and Chinese history and culture this is a topic I would be more than interested to indulge in.

But protests against Putin were going on much earlier in the decade, before there was any talk of Trump running for/being president, which is the reason why Putin would favor Trump being president. So how does that get turned into a conspiracy to get Trump? Beyond the use of removing sanctions, repealing Magnitsky act, etc. what use is Trump to Putin? How can Trump's stance towards Putin be the only reason for some people opposing him? It doesn't all add up that simply.

There are indeed Russians citizens who themselves have been targeted by Putin, at the cost of their lives. What does that have to do with the inefficiencies and shortcomings of us Americans? Would you justify that because its on Russian soil and not ours? I've known dozens of Russians over the course of my life, many being friends or classmates or acquaintances in some other capacity, you think I don't hear things directly from the source? Again, why not? Give me one good reason that doesn't involve some cabal conspiracy theory, and I don't want to hear nuclear power stuff either, I call that bluff too.

(Why now) Why not?

Wow, ragging on meditation and bumping up Ayn Rand, that is comedy right there.

Wonderful, but I've said what I have to say and I'm not the type of person to be pushed into giving more than what's due because people make passive-aggressive estimations on humility or some other quality.

I can't even make an assessment like this because I don't know people who don't also act and live up to their grievances through effort.

Both pay homage to the Dipper. That's the connection. They weren't the only ones. I did my homework and I'll let everyone else do theirs.

It's too bad no one seemed to get Shi Nai'An either.

Who doesn't?

So it seems you know that venue too. In my experience, from all the evidence I've seen, all the things said about them are true. I have long stories about that.

You know, I have been curious as to any possible Viking content on here.

From what I've learned, the Confucians took great interest in the Yijing and wrote many of the more well known commentaries upon it. I am unsure, or cannot recall at the moment, sources prior to Wei Boyang that discuss trigrams/hexagrams in context of Daoism. These are questions I am interested in too and know of others who have had greater interest in them than I, so I like this thread topic.

From my personal experience, and I wouldn't necessarily use the term faith as much as something else perhaps, I'd apply it towards 3 things. One being overcoming disillusionment and/or nihilism in the face of adversity and hardship. Two would be sticking with a path/goal in the face of competing ones, like say someone wanted to convert you or otherwise draw you away from what you were doing. Three, and maybe this is where I would say faith is more appropriate term than the first two circumstances, would be trusting in Dao in as far as it achieves. What I mean by this last part is getting to a result, or some other thing happening in some way, by virtue of Wu Wei as opposed to some predetermined effort or plan, especially to situations that are not personal to oneself or at least go well beyond one self and one's own lifespan. Like say with the future, that whatever may happen to humanity that Dao persists.

I'm not a master and I don't think I'm advanced but I used to be a horrible chain smoker, 2.5 packs a day or more. I was going to die. I ended up quitting cold turkey one day and didn't look back. My friends were smokers too, I think only a couple of them ended up quitting too and only after a much longer period. Tobacco is rough.

Also, people die eventually, so it's good to be mindful of posterity. Similar to how people have families and carry on things that way, teachers and gurus have to come to terms with how they pass on things too. If for instance one dies young but is successful in passing on their lineage and/or tradition then in a sense they achieve a sort of longevity that way whereas someone who lives an incredibly long period but doesn't pass on anything results in a kind of extinction.

I had a thought, that the perhaps the stress and pressure that comes with a title or experiences of guru or other can itself be a detriment to lifespan. Maybe it in part cancels out benefits from practice. Maybe there are times when having achieved a status that others come around to challenge or poke at it whether out of jealousy, disdain, greed, or some other ill will and that also can be taxing to defend from and withstand.

https://vgarmada.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/a-moment-of-gaming-reflection-–-a-99-year-old-japanese-lady-plays-bomberman-every-day/ I wonder if she is still around and how she is

I was wondering about that just now, thanks.

Sometimes I see news articles about centenarians and they are asked about their secrets to longevity, some cite seemingly unhealthy habits like potato chips, cigars and whiskey let alone practice of methods as discussed here. I think life is very complicated, its difficult to gauge all the factors and some things are not accounted for. Misfortunes and accidents too are a thing, and not everyone sees those coming. Even if achieving longevity a lot of things decline, retaining memory and alertness is worthwhile as it is.

The same is said of some other places.

I've been there, a family member studied there. They had multiple restaurants where the students cook for you, it was nice.

Agencies and private entities scour forums, whether to gather information or spin things in a manner they're aiming for. In context of this one, take the company's interest in Dr. Yan Xin for example and how this is one of the few places that discusses him and his work.