Vandal who hit OC Buddhist temples arrested

Anh Do (LAT, 8/22/18); Eliza Darcey, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

This Kwan Yin statue at Huong Tich Temple in Santa Ana, Orange County, was among those vandalized by a mad woman who also stole contribution boxes (Christina House/LA Times).

A woman was in custody Wednesday in connection with vandalism at Buddhist temples in Orange County, and officials appealed to the public to report more “possible hate crimes” to help them identify other potential suspects.

The vandalism — slashed fingers, chopped hands and other missing parts — has caused at least $60,000 in damage in the last two weeks, according to authorities. And that’s in addition to the theft of donation boxes, floral arrangements and dozens of items of religious decor.

Five temples in Santa Ana have been vandalized, along with two houses of worship in Garden Grove.
 

The arrest was announced at a news conference at Bao Quang Temple in Santa Ana on Wednesday afternoon, but few details — including the suspect’s name — were released.

A man visits Bao Quang Temple in Santa Ana, one of several Buddhist temples in Orange County to be vandalized in recent weeks (Christina House/Los Angeles Times).

.

The question is, is this being done by an isolated individual or is it coordinated by other groups?” asked Andrew Do, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. He called on elected officials in his district to unite in finding those responsible “for this terrible, terrible act.”

“The statues symbolize the spiritual value that we have as a community. To have them be destroyed in such a systematic manner does great harm to our spirit,” he said.

At the temple, Do stood flanked by Miguel Pulido, mayor of Santa Ana; David Valentin, the city’s police chief; and Tony Rackauckas, Orange County district attorney. All of them pledged their support to find the vandals, with Do saying that “the sooner that crimes are reported, the fresher the evidence and the greater the ability to canvass neighborhoods.”

“This is so, so, so wrong,” said Pulido, citing Santa Ana’s diversity. “This is a gorgeous temple, and to think that someone wants to deface it this way hurts us in our hearts.” The vandalism began Aug. 8, with the... More

Buddhist Lent lecture: Forgiveness (Sept. 2)

Bhante, Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, Pasadena; Amber Larson (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Rains Retreat, informally called "Buddhist Lent," continues on Sundays in LA.

Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, 920 N. Summit Ave.,  Pasadena, CA 91103: (626) 797-6144

Wild bikers and cops on the street (video)

Kaos Riders, Nov. 17, 2017; Pfc. Sandoval, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

WARNING: Do NOT try this at home, kids, as it may lead to great bodily injury and tickets.

Cop tries to stop group of bikers

Check out shirts and hoodies bit.ly/KRshop13. New Kaos Merch Shop (mugs, stickers, etc.) teespring.com/stores/kaos-mer... ☆Second channel (KAOS MX): bit.ly/Mxnation.☆ Subscribe and/or hit the notification bell to see crazy wrecks and Kaos every Monday and Friday at 4:00 PM PST: bit.ly/KaosRiders. Would you like to be featured on Kaos Riders? Got what it takes? Send videos to: bit.ly/Kaos_submit. RIP. And remember when your hog breaks down or a pig runs into it, pick up your copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

 

Ride with Robert M. Pirsig (c. 1960)

"Mandela Effect" continues to happen (video)

Eliza Darcey, Crystal Quintero, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

SEX: Noah Levine destroys Against the Stream

Againstthestream.org; Seth Auberon, Crystal Quintero, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Dharma Punx/Against the Stream to close down due to sexual misconduct by founder.

Dear Judge, thanks for letting me out of prison. I swear I want to have sex with lots of...

.

Hey, don't look at me. I already bailed.

Dear Sangha [Against the Stream Lay Community],

We are writing to inform you of the outcome of the investigation into Noah Levine’s conduct and the future of Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society (ATS).

Harvey Weinstein Guilty AF

We regret the delay and lengthy period of silence that contributed to uncertainty, confusion and pain. We have worked hard to conduct the process thoroughly and in a manner that protected the rights of all involved, including strict requirements for confidentiality required by the Grievance Council Procedures. Members of ATS governance have been deliberate and volunteered hundreds of hours to ensure the trustworthiness of the investigation. We retained expert consultants and an attorney to guide us. All of this has taken time. We ask for your understanding for the ways in which the process has been painful for you.

Investigation

So what if I had sex with students?

The ATS Grievance Council received allegations of sexual assault involving Noah Levine on March 27th 2018. Pending an investigation, Mr. Levine was temporarily suspended from teaching at ATS on March 29th. Soon thereafter, Roberta Yang, an experienced attorney and investigator of workplace harassment, was hired to conduct an independent investigation of the initial allegation and other allegations of misconduct that surfaced shortly thereafter.

I may be aging but I'm still a young stud.

Ms. Yang’s task was to determine if the ATS Teachers Code of Ethics was violated by Mr. Levine and convey her conclusions to the ATS Grievance Council. The standard Ms. Yang used was the preponderance of evidence, which means that she considered if the allegations were more likely than not to be true based on her evaluation of statements from witnesses and other evidence. Ms. Yang interviewed, or offered to interview, all affected parties and reached her conclusions independently and without any influence by ATS. Ms. Yang concluded that with multiple women, Mr. Levine violated the Third Precept of the Teacher’s Code of Ethics, namely, “to avoid creating harm through sexuality.” That is to say, Ms. Yang concluded that, based on her evaluation of the evidence she reviewed, the preponderance of that evidence showed such violations.

We're looking for a new RR meeting place.

These findings were carefully considered by the ATS Grievance Council and recommendations were made to the ATS Board of Directors in consultation with an independent ethics consultant. The standard for evaluating a Buddhist teacher’s actions are not the same as the criminal or even the civil standards of proof. Spiritual leaders are held to a higher ethical standard than the public at large and higher than other community leaders. However, ATS’ conclusion is not a finding of guilt or liability by a court; it is our conclusion based on our own evaluation of the evidence presented to us. Mr. Levine denied, and continues to deny, wrongdoing.

At the conclusion of the process, the Board decided to remove Mr. Levine from the Board and from teaching at ATS. The Board further recommends that he seek all necessary support to transform his [mis]understanding and [mis]conduct, especially as it relates to his relation to [asymmetrical] power dynamics.

Coming back to prison, Noah?

Firstly, to the women directly impacted, we wish to remain available to you and to provide whatever support we can that you might find helpful. We consider this another critical moment to study the way that different treatment based on gender constellates in the ATS community specifically, and society more generally. Events such as this have the power to shake one’s confidence in the refuge of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. We hope that the pain of this moment actually leads us back towards the heart and that we might all find true refuge.

Effects on Organization and ATS Future

I still run my Refuge Recovery Corporation.

The effect of the controversy arising from these events has been devastating for ATS. While ATS has previously experienced precarious financial moments, this period has eroded core capacities of the organization. Fiscal impacts were immediate. A 10th anniversary fundraiser was postponed; a large foundation grant was returned because we could not meet our objectives; other forms of giving contracted. Monthly expenses significantly outpace revenue and our savings have been drawn down. Four Board members resigned, a co-guiding teacher departed, two affiliate centers – Boston and Nashville – are dissociating from ATS, and our Executive Director is planning to depart at the end of his contract period. Each member of our Teachers Council has expressed a wish to dissociate themselves from Mr. Levine – to begin again and share teachings in a new form with students.

Who is our is young sexual harasser Levine?

During the course of the investigation, the Board of Directors, Teachers Council and Executive Leadership explored a number of financial models and collaborative arrangements that would allow ATS to remain a viable, healthy organization. We were unable to find a solution.

With deep sadness, we announce that ATS will close the doors to its Melrose, Santa Monica and San Francisco centers on Sept 30, 2018. Know that the impact of losing a spiritual community has been given every possible consideration. We understand that many of you have been sangha members from the very beginning. Our commitment moving forward is to be available and be present for the grief or anger or confusion that may arise.

Moving Forward [We Still Want Your Money and Our Jobs]

My boys are backing me. High five!

While we have tried to navigate this time with as much skill as we have, we know that these events are a lot and land in different ways for you. To the extent that we can be of support, we wish to be available for you. We will be holding community sessions in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the teachers will use class time, when appropriate, to help digest all of this. Please know that we’re also part of the sangha – none of this has been easy and we’re experiencing our own forms of loss.

The refuge of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha is supported by people and places, but is never dependent on a person or a place. Though ATS is ending, the Dharma, as always, continues. The ripples and resonances of goodness and sincerity continue.

Jewish in Hollywood gets the [baby cat]

Our teachers and facilitators are actively transitioning to new offerings, groups and spaces to ensure that former ATS communities across the country are supported going forward. In Los Angeles, JoAnna Hardy has announced the formation of the Meditation Coalition, which [nnindicted co-conspirator] Mary Stancavage, Cheryl Slean and some ATS facilitators will be joining. In San Francisco, Vinny Ferraro is in process looking to rent space for the Friday night class. Matthew Brensilver will remain accessible and is committed to serving the sangha in a sustained way. Nashville ATS will continue in the same location as Wild Heart Meditation Center. In Boston, Chris Crotty is committed to ensuring long-term sustainability of sangha in that city and on the east coast. We will announce more details as they come.

That's my boy James Toback up there.

For the next months, Vinny Ferraro’s September weekend retreat will continue as planned, the New Years’ retreat with Cheryl Slean and Dave Smith will be held again in Malibu, and the Women’s Retreat with Mary and JoAnna will be held once again at Joshua Tree in January 2019.

We will update you as details are finalized.

To our beloved community, we are humbled, we are heartbroken, and we grieve with you.

Sincerely,

ATS Board of Directors
ATS Grievance Council
ATS Teachers Council

• #metoo, #timesup, femen.org/en

UPDATE:

INTERNATIONAL SANGHA BULLETIN
AUGUST 26, 2018

Hi Sangha, In response to the decision by Against the Stream regarding Noah Levine, Christopher Kavanaugh, Interim Chair of the Refuge Recovery Board of Directors, and I will be hosting two Zoom video conferences this week. These are to support our sangha and respond to questions as best we can. May all beings be at ease, Jean Tuller, Executive Director

Details are as follows:
1) Time: Aug 28, 2018 5:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/197216718.
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +16465588656,,197216718# or +16699006833,,197216718#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 197 216 718
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/blE20i55

2) Time: Aug 30, 2018 7:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/369254581.
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +16699006833,,369254581# or +16465588656,,369254581#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 558 8656
Meeting ID: 369 254 581
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/deu2S6WOd

Gay sex abuse by Catholic priests: Pope knew

Associated Press (ap.org, mail.com); Pat Macpherson, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Pope Francis reaches out to hug Cardinal Archbishop emeritus Theodore McCarrick after the Midday Prayer of the Divine with more than 300 U.S. Bishops at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. Seton Hall University has begun an investigation into potential sexual abuse at two seminaries it hosts following [sexual] misconduct allegations against ex-Cardinal McCarrick and other priests (Jonathan Newton/Washington Post via AP)

 

Catholic board seeks parishioner-led abuse investigation

Hooray! Pope Francis is a hypocrite liar!

A committee created by the Catholic Church specifically to prevent sexual misconduct by clergy on Tuesday issued a damning assessment of the failings to stem the abuse, calling it an "evil" caused by "a loss of moral leadership."

 

(August 29, 2018) The National Review Board called for an investigation led by parishioners, saying a new wave of abuse scandals point to a "systematic problem" and that the bishops themselves can't be trusted to lead an investigation.

 

This Roman rewrite says I can't be wrong.

Some survivors of clergy sex abuse said the call was a disingenuous attempt by the church to get around a true independent investigation.

The board was formed in 2002 in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal that started in the Boston Archdiocese and rocked the church globally.

The committee said it was compelled to seek a lay-led investigation after recent revelations from a grand jury investigation into six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania and allegations that led to the resignation last month of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, D.C.

 

Bishops help each other. Pope is a bishop.

The grand jury report estimated 300 Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children — and possibly many more — since the 1940s, and accused senior church officials, including McCarrick, of systematically covering up complaints. McCarrick formerly served the church in Pennsylvania.

 

"Intimidation, fear, and the misuse of authority created an environment that was taken advantage of by clerics, including bishops, causing harm to minors, seminarians, and those most vulnerable," the board said in its statement. "The culture of silence enabled the abuse to go on virtually unchecked."

 

Dennis M. Doyle, a professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton in Ohio and a Catholic theologian, said the National Review Board's call would be a notable shift in the church's history of a hierarchical authority.

 

The call for a lay-led investigation, he said, "is an acknowledgement that the people in power can't be in charge of investigating themselves." It also seems to take a page from a three-page letter issued a week ago by Pope Francis, who blamed the church's top-down culture for allowing the abuse to take place in a shroud of secrecy.

 

The pope demanded an end to "clericalism" — the culture that places priests on a pedestal. He said lay Catholics must help end that culture, since rank-and-file... More

Most important skill for interacting with people

Medium.com/thrive-global; Ashley Wells, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Here. Happy birthday. I got you sparklers instead of candles (Allef Vinicius/Unsplash)

 

I have to stop living in a cave. Seriously.

One sentence reveals the secret to connecting with other people.

 

“When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble:…and you will be right more than half the time.”

—Henry Eyring

---

Every person you meet, no matter how happy they appear on the outside, is dealing with serious challenges in their life.

 

Life is freaking hard.

Some of the people you meet are going through bitter and bone-chilling challenges. And for the most part, you have no clue. You just pass them at work, in the grocery store, or even at family gatherings.
 

---

In the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Stephen Covey tells the story of being on a train one day.

While on the train there were two very noisy kids causing a disturbance to everyone around them.

Covey noticed that the father was doing nothing about it. So after a period of restraint he approached the father [and said]:

“Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?”

The man lifted his gaze as if to come to a consciousness of the situation for the first time and said softly,

“Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.”

I don't care what people think of me or Dad.

Can you imagine what I felt at that moment?

My paradigm shifted: Suddenly I saw things differently, I felt differently, I behaved differently. My irritation vanished.

I didn’t have to worry about controlling my attitude or my behavior; my heart was filled with the man’s pain. Feelings of sympathy and compassion flowed freely.

Everything changed in an instant.
 

---

Living More Compassionately

If you treat every person you meet like they are dealing with a serious challenge, you’ll be right more than half the time. If you entreat people with love, kindness, empathy, and discernment, they will appreciate you so much. More

The Root-Races of Humankind (video)

Gary Lite (June 24, 2018); Pat Macpherson, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

THE ROOT RACES OF MANKIND

Blavatsky, Buddhistic psychic, Theosophist

This is my (Gary Lite) own presentation of the story. I encourage all to investigate for themselves rather than taking everything said and shown here literally

The book The Root Races of Mankind by Scott Ramsey (awarenessofnothing.com) explains that there are seven "root-races" or evolutionary cycles through which humanity evolves.

Each root-race is divided into seven minor cycles called sub-races, which are again subdivided into seven branches or family races. These sub-divisions are related to the modern concept of races and ethnicities.

It must be stressed that the sub-races refer to cultural qualities and not to the level of evolution of the people. They are different evolutionary stages humanity as a whole goes through successively. The same individuals that compose the current humanity have been reborn in all of the previous root-races.

The root races are stages in human evolution in the esoteric cosmology of theosophist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, aka Madame Blavatsky, as described in her book The Secret Doctrine (1888). Theosophy was an early Buddhistic Eastern-Western syncretism, teaching what Blavatsky was told by her invisible spiritual teacher and realized by her own psychic intuition.

These races existed mainly on now-lost continents. According to Blavatsky's writings, there will be seven root races assembled for our Earth. Each root-race is divided into seven sub-races. Only five root races have appeared so far; the sixth is expected to emerge in the 28th century.

We are presently at the fifth stage, referred to as the "Aryans." Aryan is a Sanskrit word that means "noble." It is unfortunate that the term "Aryan" was adopted and perverted by Adolf Hitler and his intellectual predecessor's fantasies of an "Aryan Superman” and is still used today by right-wing white power extremists.

Hitler and his inner circle also perverted some genuine ancient symbols, like the swastika (an ancient Vedic and Buddhist symbol).

There have been on Earth many civilizations of which we know nothing. These races evolve from ether to material. So every living organic species of animal and vegetation changes with every new root-race. Every sub-race and nation has its cycles and stages of developmental evolution repeated on a smaller scale.

Our race then has, as a root-race, crossed the middle line of the root-races and is cycling onward on the spiritual side. The periods of the great root-races are divided from each other by great convulsions of nature and by great geological changes.

Every root-race is separated by a catastrophe, a cataclysm -- the basis and historical foundation of the fables woven later into the religious fabric of every people, whether civilized or primitive, under the names of “deluges,” “showers of fire,” and the “great flood.”

Our present continents have been submerged and had the time to reappear again and bear their new groups of humankind and civilization. At the first great geological upheaval, at the next cataclysm, in the series of periodic cataclysms, that occur from the beginning to the end of every round [samsaric revolutions or cycles], our known continents will go down, and ancient continents will arise again.

It must be remembered that the Theosophical concept is that "souls" develop through an evolutionary process from: (1) Mineral to (2) Plant to (3) Animal to (4) Human. There is no transmigration backward so that a human cannot go backwards to an animal or plant for example.

Francis Bacon (whom Theosophy considers to be the legendary Count of St. Germain) in his work The New Atlantis (1627) describes a potential future civilization which lives on a land called Bensalem.

The first root-race (Polarian)

The first root-race was "ethereal" [deva]. They were composed of etheric matter. They reproduced by dividing like amoeba. Earth was still cooling at that time.

The first mountain to arise out of the stormy primeval ocean was Mount Meru [as it is known in Buddhist cosmology, also called Mt. Sumeru].

The earth on which the first race lived was more ethereal than it is today but relatively hard and condensed in comparison with those non-self-conscious "human" protoplasts.

They had huge translucent or transparent bodies, ovoid though somewhat fluid in form, with no bones or organs, and no hair or skin. They slowly grew more solid but remained ethereal until the end.

 

Website for universal truth: 369universe.com 369news.net. Small donations accepted by clicking here: paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr... Thanks 🙏💗.

Why did white Europeans enslave Africans?

Origin Of Everything (PBS, July 10, 2018); Crystal Quintero, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Written and hosted by Danielle Bainbridge. Graphics by Noelle Smith. Edited by Mike Petrow. Fact check by Sarah Edwards. Produced by Kornhaber Brown (kornhaberbrown.com).

Why were most chattel slaves in the Americas from West Africa? Non-chattel "slavery" has existed throughout history in various forms across the globe (usually not based on race), but who became enslaved was almost always based on military conquest. So why did greedy and cruel white Europeans travel thousands of miles to enslave people from a particular geographic region?

 

WORKS CITED

The reaper's garden: death and power in the world of Atlantic slavery Vincent Brown

Specters of the Atlantic: finance capital, slavery, and the philosophy of history Ian Baucom Hortense Spillers

Mama’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe: An American Grammar Book Jennifer Morgan

Laboring Women: Reproduction and Gender in New World Slavery

• history.com/topics/black-... liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/is... pbs.org/race/000...

Saltwater Slavery. Stephanie Smallwood, Saidiya Hartman

Scenes of Subjection “Venus in Two Acts” Capitalism and Slavery Eric Williams

How Africa Developed Europe: Deconstructing the His-story of Africa, Excavating Untold Truth and What Ought to Be Done and Known Nkwazi Nkuzi Mhango

Theorising development in Africa: towards building an African framework of development Munyaradzi Mawere

Britain’s Black Debt Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide Hilary Beckles slate.com/articles/news_an... smithsonianmag.com/histor... nationalarchives.gov.uk/ca... psmag.com/news/how-slavery-ch... pbs.org/wnet/african-ameri... history.com/news/8-reason... pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/var... jstor.org/stable/274784.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (video)

Douglas Adams via Billotto51 and The Dom; Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly

The Making of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy British (BBC) TV Show in 1981
 

Review of the horrible disappointment "Lost in Translation" US film version

Pagan Origins of Judaism (video)

Sigalius Mýricantur, Nov. 21, 2015; Sheldon S., Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

 

[The Christian/Jewish "God"] Yahweh Elohim evolved from the Canaanite deity El [whose consort/wife was Asherah]. Judaism and Christianity are based in polytheistic traditions.

• Sources: books.google.com/books?id=S1t... 
• Mark S. Smith
• Michael Cogan
• Christine Hayes
• William G. Dever
• John C. L. Gibson

Israeli racism towards Palestinians

SocialJusticeNews.net; Pfc. Sandoval, Sheldon S., Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

[Here is] my first experience seeing Israeli racism towards Palestinians. Remember Dani and her Prince Charming? (They never even dated after all  of her planning).

Dani is an Israeli-American. But she is totally cool, having grown up away from Israel's occupation. She never knew a Palestinian before Feras. But Dani's mom was an Israeli, who was born in Israel and moved the States after she got married.

At first I assumed everything would be fine. I was a naive 22-year-old who knew little about Palestine and Israel, other than the catch phrase "Peace in the Middle East."

Dani and Feras got along so well and knew all of these cool foods that I had never seen -- like hummus, baba ghanoosh, schwarma, and so on. As the child of restauranteurs I always saw food as a common denominator that binds us all.

It's almost funny how little I knew about the cultural appropriation that Israel imposes on Palestinians at the time. But 10 years later, after all the wars I've watched, it just makes me sad to know how many other people know as little as I once did.

Even the experience of meeting Dani's mother looks so different when I think about it after all these years compared to how I felt about it when I experienced it.

We picked her mother up from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. It might seem weird that Feras and I went with Dani on such a personal errand, but we were all relatively new to Arizona and were still getting the lay of the land.

If we had the technology we do today as widely available back then, I might have been spared the whole experience.

It was clear that Dani's Israeli mother didn't approve of Feras from the start. I mean it was never going to go great when the first thing she asks him is where he's from and his reply is naturally "Palestine."

She took every opportunity to cut him down. But at the same time she was really nice to me. I assumed that she was a man-hater having been recently divorced. That's how oblivious I was to the [racism of the] whole thing.

Even though she practically threw herself at Dani's "Prince Charming" whenever he was around. (No offense to her taste but that should have been a red flag right there, PC was okay-looking, but he is no Feras).

Did I mention how weird that was since she could have been his mom? All the signs were there but I didn't know enough to see it then. One experience that stands out... More

RIDE: "Skate Kitchen," "Minding the Gap" (film)

Laemmle.com; skatekitchenfilm.com; Crystal Quintero, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Minding the Gap

Compiling over 12 years of footage shot in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, in Minding the Gap Bing Liu searches for correlations between his skateboarder friends' turbulent [domestic abuse] upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity. As the film unfolds, Bing captures 23-year-old Zack's tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend deteriorate after the birth of their son and 17-year-old Keire struggling with his racial identity as he faces new responsibilities following the death of his father. While navigating a difficult relationship between his camera, his friends, and his own past, Bing ultimately weaves a story of generational forgiveness while exploring the precarious gap between childhood and adulthood. Playing tonight at Monica Film Center Get Tickets

FEATURED REVIEW: Bilge Ebiri, Village Voice Longitudinal in its ambitions, Liu’s film follows the lives of three close friends, all skaters in the depressed Rust Belt town of Rockford, Illinois. The trio have known each other since they were little kids. We see their early years in rough glimpses: attempting skate tricks... Read review

Skate Kitchen
Official trailer starring Skate Kitchen and Jaden Smith

Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing, Summer 2018

 

In the first narrative feature from The Wolfpack director Crystal Moselle, Camille, an introverted teenage skateboarder (newcomer Rachelle Vinberg) from Long Island, meets and befriends an all-girl, New York City-based skateboarding crew called Skate Kitchen. She falls in with the in-crowd, has a falling-out with her mother, and falls for a mysterious skateboarder guy (Jaden Smith), but a relationship with him proves to be trickier to navigate than a kickflip. Writer/director Crystal Moselle immersed herself in the lives of the skater girls and worked closely with them, resulting in the film's authenticity, which combines poetic, atmospheric filmmaking and hypnotic skating sequences. Skate Kitchen precisely captures the experience of women in male-dominated spaces and tells a story of a girl who learns the importance of camaraderie and self-discovery. In theaters August 10th, 2018. skatekitchenfilm.com

Science experiment breaks the world (video)

PBS Space Time; Pat Macpherson, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Quantum Experiment that Broke Reality

The double slit experiment radically changed the way we understand reality. Check out any of the lectures available from The Great Courses Plus and get ready to learn about everything from cooking to calculus. Find out what the ramifications of this experiment were and how it can be used to better comprehend the universe. Written and hosted by Matt O’Dowd. Made by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com).

• Previous episode
• The Planck Length and the Origin of Quantum Mechanics
• Veritasium and the Double Slit Experiment 
• Is Quantum Tunneling Faster than Light?
• Comments by Jason Blank Deisisase youtube.com/watch?v=_NqbR... Bike Jake youtube.com/watch?v=_NqbR... An Imposter youtube.com/watch?v=_NqbR...