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As a person who has read and written about J.R.R. Tolkien for decades, I am often asked about his political views. In a sense, this is a funny question, as Tolkien really despised most politics. In fact, he really thought of himself as very anti-political. His few statements on the matter reveal just how unpolitical and apolitical and anti-political he could be. · It is also, however, a natural question for someone to ask about the great man,…

The assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963, was one of the landmark moments and one of the most remembered events in twentieth-century history. The assassination of President Diem of Vietnam on All Souls’ Day 1963, only twenty days earlier, is probably more important as a landmark moment but is largely forgotten. Intriguingly, there is a creepy and uncanny connection between these two events which represents one of the darkest…

In the face of escalating security challenges in the Pacific, Japan and New Zealand are tightening their strategic partnership, recognising that regional prosperity hinges on stability. · This deepening alliance was underscored during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to Tokyo in June, where he met with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida to strengthen their countries' shared commitment to safeguarding the Pacific. · Japan…

Anna Julia Cooper passionately defended classical education during the Reconstruction Era when the dilemma of how to educate former slaves arose. Cooper, a former slave herself, preached the virtue of classics and their necessary vitality to the soul. · Why would a Black American female ex-slave revere the wisdom of dead white men? As I read the essays of Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964) this spring, this question was at the front of my mind. As…

Tax havens causing major headaches for European governments trying to balance their books. · In a detailed analysis, economist Gabriel Zucman reveals the large impact tax havens have had on global profit-shifting over the last 50 years. · “Profit shifting” are strategies used by multinational companies to move their profits from higher-tax jurisdictions to lower-tax jurisdictions (often tax havens) in order to reduce their overall tax burden. …

Minimise your washing-up with this delicious one-pan chicken pie with spinach and herbs and topped with crispy filo pastry. It's ideal for busy weeknights · Ingredients · 2 tbsp olive oil, plus a little extra for brushing over the pastry · bunch spring onions, sliced into 3cm pieces · 250g frozen spinach · 6 ready-cooked chicken thighs  · 350ml hot chicken stock · ½ tbsp wholegrain mustard · 200g frozen peas · 200ml half-fat crème fraîche · ½…

Following the death of Māori King Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII on 29 August 2024, preparations for his funeral have begun at Turangawaewae Marae. · The King will be laid to rest on the sacred Taupiri Mountain alongside previous Māori monarchs including his mother, Dame Te Atairangikaahu. · The week-long tangihanga will include daily powhiri to welcome guests. Iwi, Pacific leaders, and international dignitaries are expected to attend. …

Secondary school principals and teachers are raising the alarm after thousands of students failed the new online NCEA literacy and numeracy tests. Māori and Pacific students were particularly affected. · “It’s not helping with the equity gap at all, in fact, it’s exacerbating it,” said Vaughan Couillault, president of the Secondary Principals’ Association. Some believe these tests may be creating more problems than they solve. · In May of this…

It is in the products of great art that we encounter our condition as human beings as metaxic: in between. We come from non-existence and journey to our departure from this existence; the “middle” can seem to be all there is whilst we are in the midst of things. Yet we possess that constant eagerness to depart, to journey, and this, for so many, for so long, motivates action. · In this discussion I will look at the concept of posthumous mind…

Check this out Friends, contain your selves :P · This is from the annual 2024 global Bitcoin Conference held in Prague and one of the keynote speakers was Aleksander Svetski,  talking about how beauty will save the world.  · 6 minutes in he is referencing our beloved former diktator Commandant Adern ~ · · "If a person has ugly thoughts it begins to show on the face and when that person has ugly thoughts every day every week every year the…