'Major Barbara' explains war for profit

Major Barbara (1941 British drama that explains war

Major Barbara

(Classic Movie Depot) Major Barbara (1941) is a British film starring Wendy Hiller and Rex Harrison. The film was produced and directed by Gabriel Pascal. It was adapted for the screen by Marjorie Deans and Anatole de Grunwald, based on the 1905 stage play Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw.

Why the West fights wars

Mr. Undershaft is a successful and wealthy businessman who has made millions from his weapons factory, which manufactures the world-famous Undershaft guns, cannons, torpedoes, submarines, and aerial battleships. When his children were still small, the Undershafts parents separated. By herself, Lady Britomart has been raising their children, who have not seen their father since. During their reunion, Undershaft learns that his daughter Barbara is a major in The Salvation Army. She works at a shelter in West Ham, east London. Major Barbara and her father Mr. Undershaft agree that he will visit Barbara's Army shelter if in exchange she will visit his weapons factory. More #fullmovie #drama #war

• Classic Movie Depot, Dec. 11, 2022; Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

I bought California ghost town for $1.4M

Polly Thompson (pthomspon@insider.com), Business Insider via MSN.com, Feb. 25, 2024; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Earth’s great balancing act: Nature is adapting to human influence (Earth/MSN)

• When he was 30, American Brent Underwood left Austin, Texas, and moved to an abandoned mining town.
• While restoring the ghost town he has realized that people approach finding a purpose in life the wrong way.
• Underwood spoke to Business Insider from 900 feet beneath ground level, while sheltering from a snowstorm.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brent Underwood about his experience moving to a Californian ghost town. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Visit at night when they're active

In 2018, my friend sent me a listing for Cerro Gordo, an abandoned mining town in California. "This might be your next project," he joked.

The idea of a remote town in the American West was very alluring to me. It reminded me of the old TV westerns my grandfather watched every day [Gunsmoke, Kung Fu, High Noon].

I was running a pretty popular bed and breakfast in Austin, but it felt like I was just searching for something to shake me up from the routine monotony of American life.

Buying this ghost town has done that. It cost $1.4 million — more than half was a loan from a hard money lender. More: I bought a California ghost town for $1.4 million. Living here gets lonely — but I've found my purpose

• Tormented ghost scientist seeks town to haunt, preferably in Japan: Paul Tibbets dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and was given no funeral or gravestone. Thanks, US military
• Life beyond Earth proven to be common in new study • Earth.com

Audiobook: Smedley Butler: 'War is a Racket'

Smedley Butler, LibriVox Audiobooks; Pfc. Sandoval, Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

War Is a Racket by Major General Smedley Butler read by John Greenman | full book

(LibriVox Audiobooks) War Is a Racket by Smedley Butler (1881-1940) read by John Greenman in English.

CHAPTERS:

1. 00:00:00 - 01 - Chapter 1: War is a Racket
2. 00:12:39 - 02 - Chapter 2: Who Makes the Profits?
3. 00:30:51 - 03 - Chapter 3: Who Pays the Bills?
4. 00:43:54 - 04 - Chapter 4: How to Smash This Racket!
5. 00:53:35 - 05 - Chapter 5: To Hell with War!

U.S. Army Major General Smedley Darlington Butler's expose of American corporate imperialism. Maj. Gen. Butler said, "I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was just part of the racket all the time. Now I am sure of it."

Summary by John Greenman and americanswhotellthetruth.... More info: librivox.org/war-is-a-racket-... LibriVox: Free public domain audiobooks (librivox.org).

British princess marries Latin lover (video)

Sarah Young, Sabrina Barr (Independent); Crystal Q., Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

This is embarrassing! It was supposed to be a Buckingham Palace secret at Windsor Castle.

Video of Princess Beatrice with rich young Latin lover Edoardo (independent.co.uk)

  

He's hot-blooded, and I'm blue-.

Princess Beatrice has married property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Today (Friday, July 17, 2020) the couple tied the knot surrounded by loved ones at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park.

The Queen was in attendance at the secret ceremony, in addition to the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice’s parents [accused child molester] Prince Andrew [friend of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Don "John" Trump, Billy-Goat Clinton, and famous attorney Alan Dershowitz, who all frequented Pedophile Island] Duke of York and the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, all of whom adhered to strict social distancing guidelines, the Palace claimed.

Prince Andrew with child he molested

The couple were originally supposed to wed in May, but the wedding reception was cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Mapelli Mozzi proposed to Beatrice in September when the couple travelled to Italy for a weekend break.

• Princess Beatrice (daughter of Prince Andrew and Fergie) marries in secret ceremony at Windsor Castle

BREAKING NEWS: Secret ceremony

Following the news of their engagement, the couple released a statement through Buckingham Palace, which read: “We are extremely happy to be able to share the news of our recent engagement.

“We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can’t wait to be married.

“We share so many similar interests and values and we know this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness.”

But who is exactly is the royal’s new husband? Here’s everything you need to know. More

Lottery jackpot: half a BILLION dollars!

Editors, Wisdom Quarterly; Lottery Officials in Suckersville (USAmega.com/lottery-news.asp)

You want a $301mn lump sum or $502mn?

In the past Wisdom Quarterly has explained HOW TO WIN the lottery. Now's the time to use that information.

Here is the up-to-the-minute story of the half-billion dollar U.S. jackpot as of today, Wednesday, March 28, 2018:

• 11:40 am – $502 MILLION: Mega Millions grows to 10th-largest lottery jackpot of all time.
• Six years to the day after becoming the first lottery in history to feature a $500 million [which is half a billion] jackpot, the multi-state Mega Millions game is right back at the same level, offering a $502 million grand prize [$300 million lump sum] to be drawn Friday [March 30th, 2018] evening.
• 1:23 am – Mega Millions: There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Mega Millions drawing.
• But 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize, 1 from Illinois and 1 from NJ. 
• For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, a list of the California pari-mutuel prize amounts, the drawing video, and all other data about this drawing, see the Mega Millions Drawing Detail page.

This is what the story was yesterday when no one won the big jackpot on Tuesday, March 27, 2018:

• 11:10 pm – Mega Millions:  The Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Mega Millions drawing has taken place, and the results are 7-25-43-56-59, and the Mega Ball is 13.  The Megaplier number is 3. USA Mega

Megyn Kelly: fake, failure, $69 million mistake

Cheyenne Roundtree (dailymail.co.uk); CC Liu, C. Quintero, S. Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly

I'm not worried. I'm locked in to my $69 million whether we film or not. Ha ha, NBC suckers.

I thought we had an exciting launch.

DAILY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: NBC's "$69 MILLION mistake!" NBC network executives slam the floundering Megyn Kelly as they reveal she is earning $23M yearly in a three-year deal for her morning show -- rivaling the salaries of Matt Lauer and Jimmy Fallon.

• Megyn Kelly is raking in $23mil a year for her new NBC morning show and is locked in for the next three years, DailyMailTV exclusively revealed.
• Network executives have slammed the former Fox News host saying that her salary is 'obscene' and a 'slap in the face' to other NBC veteran stars.
• Matt Lauer, who has been at NBC for 23 years, has an estimated salary of $25m, Jimmy Fallon, who is host of a popular late night show, earns around $15m.
• One high-ranking insider said: "How on earth can they justify paying her $69m for three years?"
• Another added: "The network that created Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, and Matt Lauer will now forever be remembered for the $69m hire of Megyn Kelly."
• The 46-year-old left Fox News in January and launched her new mid-morning program in late September.
• Kelly's show has dipped in the ratings, and she has been excoriated for [her fakeness and] not connecting with her audience and awkward guest encounters.
• The latest ratings report reveals that Kelly's show on Wednesday had a low viewership, a 1.5 overall rating and a .08 rating among women 25 to 54.

NBC executives not involved in her hiring are furious over Megyn Kelly's "obscene" $23 million salary for her tanking morning show and think it's a slap in the face to other established stars at the network, DailyMailTV has exclusively revealed.

Although it was rumored the former Fox News anchor was only being paid $17 million for her new role at NBC, Kelly will actually line her pockets with a total of $69 million over the course of three years for swapping politics for talk show antics.

Her hefty salary has drawn the scorn of senior NBC and Comcast executives who believe the 46-year-old shouldn't be raking in more than the network's veteran stars. More

Paris Hilton is not dumb and useless (video)

Wisdom Quarterly; USMagazine, Jan. 4, 2012; Photo by G Tres/Splash News
Most of what Paris has in this life (beauty, wealth, health, influence, and opportunity) she did not earn in this life. That is not how karma works. We "inherit" the result of profitable and unprofitable past actions and "earn" our future now. Karma bears exponential results.

Paris Hilton (shown below with sister Nikki) is often criticized for being "famous for being famous," but the 30-year-old reality star says she's worked hard to amass her hefty fortune.

"I'm involved in my products every step of the way. My fragrances are doing really well at the moment," Hilton tells FHM UK's January issue. "They've produced more than $1.3 billion in revenue since 2005."

"I have 35 stores and 17 product lines. And then there's my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project, the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. The first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It's going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms. Everything really." More

"She's a Barbie girl in a Barbie world" (Aqua)

Inheritors of our Karma

Wisdom Quarterly (ANALYSIS)
It is certain that Paris is hated. Why? Either she is envied or misunderstood or both. Many of us are jealous, without realizing it, because we misunderstand karma.

Paris is ostensibly living the life we all want. She is not free of suffering, yet we resent her for having it all: youth, beauty, billions, fame, talent, tons of sex, drugs, and a music career.

"She doesn't deserve it," we insist. "She got it handed to her!"

This is mistaken. She did not inherit money, beauty, or anything else by accident. She inherited her karma. And we will inherit ours -- resentment, a legacy of clinging to wrong views, pettiness, and player hating. Sure, call dumb or useless. But it would be far wiser to cultivate joy-in-her-joy (mudita). Loving kindness (metta) would help.

This is not about Paris. Forget Paris. She's fine. This is about us. This is about our karma. She is burning through her merit (punya) and apparently has a great deal to spare.

Five Desirable Things
Wisdom Quarterly translation (AN V.43)

The Buddha said, "There are five desirable, pleasant, and agreeable things which are rare in the world. What are the five? They are long life, beauty, happiness, fame, and rebirth in the heavens.

"But of these five things, I do not teach that they are to be obtained by prayers or vows [promising to behave in a certain way in the future]. If one could obtain them by prayers or vows, who would not have it?

"For a noble disciple who wishes to have long life [beauty, happiness, fame, and a fortunate rebirth], it is not fitting that that person should pray for long life or take delight in doing so.

"Rather, one should follow a path of life [a course of conduct, virtuous behavior, profitable karma] that is conducive to longevity [beauty, happiness, fame, and rebirth in the heavens]" (Numerical Discourses, Book of the Fives, 43).

Profitable Reflections

Denial is sweet. But it is better to escape to reality when what goes around comes around. The truth sets us free: Wise reflection helps move us in the direction of liberating wisdom.

“By nature I will grow old, get ill, die; everything and everyone dear to me are of a nature to change; separation from them is inevitable. My actions (karma) are my only real belongings. Beings inherit the results of karma. Actions are the womb from which we have sprung. We are the inheritors of our karma, our intentional actions.”

At every moment we choose how we will respond to our circumstances, themselves born of karma. Our choices condition further results. And considering the limitations of our understanding, it seems best to respond to all situations with compassion rather than judgment.

If we want to hate Paris Hilton, we can whistle away our time by asking if she is adding to or expending her store of merit. (We could also build our own). Is she declining or building a future for herself? (Are we building a future for ourselves or busy worrying about what someone else is doing?) Is she learning and growing or getting high and clinging to fleeting beauty, money, and good fortune? (What are we clinging to?) Has she outstripped aging, illness, and death? (Have we?) Does she hear or practice the Dharma? (Do we?) To rehabilitate her image and stay out of jail, she once hired a fake spiritual guru and hung around Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles pretending to read spiritual books like The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. Poor Paris, poor little rich girl, poor heiress of her karma. She's fine. But how about us?

• PHOTOS: Paris Hilton's worst outfits ever
• 5 Daily Recollections (bodhicards.com)
  

Supreme Court legalizes downloading music

Reuters, AFP, RT.com, Wisdom Quarterly

The United State Supreme Court has refused an appeal that would have made downloading music an infringement of Federal copyright law. Take that, Metallica (AFP/Andre Durao).

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, or ASCAP, had been attempting to appeal to the Supreme Court an earlier ruling by an appeals court in New York that said a downloaded song constituted a public performance of the song under federal copyright law.

Attorneys for ASCAP were fighting to reverse that decision in hopes that they’d be able to collect additional royalties off of songs downloaded from the Web.

ASCAP had insisted that digital downloads were on par with public performances, which would thus allow copyright owners to receive compensation for each download. A federal judge and an appeals court had rejected that argument, however, and now the Supreme Court is also refusing to hear it.

According to the appeals court, “Music is neither recited, rendered, nor played when a recording (electronic or otherwise) is simply delivered to a potential listener.”

US Solicitor General Donald Verrilli agreed with the appeals ruling and that just because a song was transferred over the Internet did not mean that it was being performed, reports Reuters. More

"Actually, Butthead, I'm not into Metallica anymore. They suck ever since that Napster thing!" "Huh huh huh, you said 'suck,' Beavis." "Oh yeah, huh huh huh, huh huh huh, huh huh huh."

• Blind man sued for downloading porn
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• Man faces $675k in fines again for downloading music
• Internet providers pull the plug on downloaders
• 23,000 targeted in latest US BitTorrent lawsuit
• State Dept. blocks access to indie news sites
• LulzSec hacks Arizona law enforcement

Mingyur Rinpoche, the millionaire monk

Mary Finnigan (Guardian.co.uk)
Buddhist monks attend an alms offering ceremony (Reuters/Damir Sagolj).

Mingyur Rinpoche, the millionaire monk who renounced it all

The Buddhist teacher's decision to leave his monastery suggests a revival of the principles laid down by the Buddha.

On first impression, Mingyur Rinpoche seemed to have everything well set up for a high profile career as a globe-trotting meditation teacher in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan [Vajrayana] Buddhism. The youngest of three sons of the late, much venerated Tulku Urgyen, by the age of 36 he had a bestselling book (The Joy of Living) to his name, a monastery in India and Tergar [shown left], an international organization based in the US with branches worldwide.

Mingyur Rinpoche was living comfortably with a retinue of attendants. He was in high demand as a teacher and admired by developed world devotees in particular, for his interest in the scientific implications of meditation -- specifically its effect on brain function and the nervous system. He already had 10 years of solitary meditation retreat behind him and Tibetan Buddhist aficionados were impressed with his personal qualities.

But Mingyur Rinpoche was not content to rest on his laurels. Nor was he interested in becoming yet another celebrity guru, living in luxury and spoiled by the adulation accorded to important lamas. One morning in June this year his attendants knocked on the door of his room at his monastery in Bodhgaya, India, and when there was no response they went in to find it empty – except for a letter explaining that he had left for an indeterminate period to become a wandering yogi, meditating wherever he alighted in the Himalayas.

"He took no money, and no possessions," explained his brother Tsoknyi Rinpoche. "He didn't take his passport, his mobile phone, or even a toothbrush."

In his letter Mingyur Rinpoche said that from a young age he had "harbored the wish to stay in retreat and practice, wandering from place to place without any fixed location." He advised his followers not to worry about him, assuring them that in a few years they would meet again. To this day no one has any idea of his whereabouts and he has not been in touch with his family.

Mingyur Rinpoche (the title Rinpoche means "Precious One") left on his journey from Bodhgaya, the place where the historical Buddha Siddhartha attained enlightenment.

• Life of the Buddha in (Burmese) Pictures
  

"There's an interesting parallel with the Buddha," says Donald Lopez, professor of Buddhist and Tibetan studies at the University of Michigan. "Since the fall of the Tibetan monarchy in 842, incarnate lamas have served as a kind of aristocracy in Tibet, so a high-ranking tulku [spiritual reincarnation] is not unlike a prince. Mingyur Rinpoche has renounced royal life, just as Prince Siddhartha did. This radical step that he has taken is essentially a return to the lifestyle that the Buddha prescribed for all monks." More

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• The Jane Goodall Institute and its programs
  

Math genius explains $1M prize refusal

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (UPI) - Grigory Perelman, the Russian math whiz who solved a century-old problem, said he refused a $1 million prize because he knows "how to control the universe."

Perelman, 43, of St. Petersburg told the Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda he had no reason to accept the $1 million prize the Clay Mathematics Institute of Cambridge, Massachussetts, offered him in 2010 for proving the Poincare conjecture, RIA Novosti reported Friday.

"Emptiness is everywhere and it can be calculated, which gives us a great opportunity... I know how to control the universe. So tell me, why should I run for a million?" Perelman said. More

• Autistic physics genius, 12, in college
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• VIDEO: Man struck by lightning
  
• Psychology Today: Girls and Math

Why study mathematics? (science.kukuchew.com)

News of the World: richest people in America

More students delay college for a "gap year"
Taking a year off is catching on with students looking for adventure and to avoid burnout. Less likely to graduate? - Volunteering abroad - Gates hails school movie - DREAM Act dies in Senate

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson shoot up the rankings. Same No. 1 for 17 years - True instant millionaires - Billionaire money habits - Where to stash cash - Five mistakes everyone should make

Two new dinosaur species discovered
Fossils found in the Utah desert include the most ornate-headed dinosaur known to man. And a four-ton, 22-foot beast - Came from lost continent - Treasure trove of fossils


Equinox marked with global celebrations
People around the world ring in the change of seasons with the help of symbolic traditions. Dramatic photos - Effect of season change - Treat for skywatchers - Fall foliage peak


How "unknown" revolt altered U.S. history
A "sharp and bloody firefight" 200 years ago carved out a tiny, independent republic in Louisiana. Its name - Flag's complex history - Lost language unearthed - 200 years of Oktoberfest


City rolls out Yoga Pose parking-ticket ploy
A Massachusetts city hopes Zen-like images will change attitudes, but some drivers aren't pleased. "I don't like it." - Parallel parking tips - Traffic violation etiquette - Calif. city salary scandal


Teen takes blame for Twitter chaos
A 17-year-old Australian admits he exposed a security flaw that led to a massive hacker attack. How he did it - Twitter patches flaw - Most popular on Twitter - Czechs halt "Street View"

Millionaire's gift sparks Web curiosity
An American man leaves a whopping $8 million to an unusual recipient halfway across the world. Why he did it - More about the recipient - Another million-dollar gift - Most endangered list

Law of Atraction "Guru" Charged in Deaths

How the hopes and expectations of Spiritual Materialism are shaping many lives: J.A. Ray wishes he were dreaming now so he could awaken from this nightmare.

"Spiritual Warrior" Charged with 3 Counts of Manslaughter
Roger Butow (Salem-News.com's "Odd Man Out")

LAGUNA BEACH, California - "Jesus was [allegedly] saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free'" (John 8:31-32).

Many Americans are shaking their heads and “Tsk-tsking” about the avoidable deaths of three people who attended self-help guru James A. Ray’s retreat in Sedona, Arizona last October. Who knows where the grand jury manslaughter indictment of Mr. Ray will lead. But one thing is for sure: He’s got enough in the bank to fend off the accusations, funds provided by his incensed supportive entourage. And the "if it bleeds it leads, film at 11" media will go into a feeding frenzy mode.

James Arthur Ray speaks about "the secret" to achieving financial and spiritual wealth.

With about 50 people total in that makeshift sweat lodge, another 18 were treated for burns, dehydration, respiratory arrest, or kidney failure, look for them to seek their own trials and punitive damages. This will become a veritable cottage industry for Gloria Allred and other celebrity ambulance chasers that will also become rich off the publicity and legal fees. Look for phony populist Nancy Grace to cry, dab her make-up with her hanky, and milk it dry on her show. More>>

• NY Times: Sweat Lodge Leader is Indicted in Deaths
• ABC News: Ray "Accepts Responsibility"
• James Arthur Ray (Wikipedia)

Love of God Drives Austere Existence for Monks
To conquer lust, Saint Benedict threw himself into a briar patch, naked. At least, that's the story. This monkish mentality of extreme self-denial is pretty far from most college students' lines of thought. But we at Geneseo have a monastery five miles away -- the Abbey of the Genesee. Is it more than just robes and briar patches? One of the monks, Brother Anthony Weber, was happy to tell all.

Self-help guru's negligence leads to deaths

Millionaire self-help guru James Arthur Ray (center) with peers (AP).

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The family of a Minnesota woman who died more than a week after being overcome in an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony said Sunday that she prided herself on leading a healthy and active life. Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake suffered multiple organ damage and was in a coma before she died Saturday at a Flagstaff hospital. She was among dozens crowded into the sweat lodge on Oct. 8 at a resort just outside Sedona, a town 115 miles north of Phoenix that draws many in the New Age spiritual movement. More>>

Angel Valley Retreat Center in Sedona, Ariz. where two followers of self-help guru James Arthur Ray died and nineteen others were injured during a sweat lodge ceremony (AP/Ross D. Franklin).