"...the sensualist will discover that what had hitherto passedfor passionate sex was merely an agreeable piece of foreplay. In the future, eroticpleasure of an intensity that mortal flesh has never knownwill be enjoyable with a whole gamut of friends and lovers.Universal love is possible because jealousy, already transiently eliminabletoday under the influence of serotonin releasers like MDMA ("Ecstasy"), is not the sort ofgene-inspired perversion of consciousness likely to be judged worthyof conservation in the post-Darwinian era. In addition, designer love-philtresand smarter sex-drugs promise to transform our conception of personal intimacy. Today'sill-educated fumblings will seem inept by comparison. Sensualists mayopt for whole-body orgasms of a frequency, duration and variety thattranscends the limp foreplay of their Darwinian ancestors. Whether thesexual adventures of our descendants will be mainly auto-erotic, interpersonal,or assume rapturous guises we can't currently imagine is a topic for another night.But profound love of many forms - both of oneself and all other sentient life-forms - is atleast as feasible as the impersonal emotional wastelandoccupied by Huxley's utopians...."

THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PARADISE01 : 02: 03 : 04: 05 : 06: 07 : 08: 09 : 10: 11 : 12: 13 14 : 15: 16 : 17: 18 : 19: 20 : 21: 22 : 23: 24 : 25: 26

HedWebHedonismBLTC ResearchFuture OpioidsSuperhappiness?Wirehead HedonismThe Good Drug GuideUtopian PharmacologyThe Hedonistic ImperativeCritique Of Huxley's Brave New WorldWhen Is It Best To Take Crack Cocaine?

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The Future Of Hardcore Hedonism

Hedonism II Photo Album Negril, Jamaica

The photos in our Hedonism ii Photo Album wereeither shot by us, our clients or provided by the resort. If you have recently visited Hedonism ii we invite you to send in your photos for us to display.To contribute you own photos (or trip reports),go to our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page.

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Hedonism II - Photo Album | Castaways Travel

Hedonism II is the only resort of its kind in the world. It's the resort where you can do what you want, when you want, in a way that can only happen at Hedonism II. From the expansive beach to piano bar to the disco, Hedonism II is the best resort for your all inclusive vacation. At Hedonism II, all meals, drinks, activities and entertainment are included and tipping is simply not permitted. If you don't have fun at Hedonism II, you probably won't have fun anywhere.

What is Hedonism ??

From the moment Hedonism II's gates opened thirty plus years ago, it's been the most widely recognized, and notorious, resort in the world. Words really can't quite describe the thrill of actually being here. It's the ultimate guilty pleasure, only without the guilt. Hedonism II is located on Negril's famous 7 mile beach regarded as the party capital of the world.

Everything You've Heard... It's true. The rumors, the legends, the myths. All true. For more than thirty years, It's what happens when you combine warm water, a white-sand beach, open bars and open minds. This is about as far as you can get from your everyday life. And best of all, just about everything you can eat, drink and do is included.

Sooner or later, it's gonna happen. The primal urge to just let go. Unwind. Unplug. You're not alone. Hedonism II on world-famous Negril Beach was created as a reward for all those times you've had to deny your basic instincts. In these lush gardens of pure pleasure, the word "no" is seldom heard.

Hedonism is a sandbox for your inner child, nourishment for the mind, body, spirit and soul. Pleasure comes in many forms. Choose one. Or two. Or more. After a week at Hedonism, you'll view the world from a slightly different angle. You'll be tanned and relaxed. And at times you'll find yourself smiling for no reason whatsoever. Hedonism, there's nothing else on earth quite like it.

The resort has 280 rooms located in a tropical beach scene with separate two-story buildings with two twin or king beds in each room. Some rooms face the beach, some are garden view locations. The resort is arguably the "Mother of all inclusive resorts" and has a world-wide reputation for fun and frolic. Our clients who visit Hedonism II come from every continent in the world and they're there for one reason -- to have fun. If you like to read a book and chill out, you can do that, but this place is so active with lots of interesting people, you may miss some of the greatest opportunities to meet the most fun loving people... from all over the world.

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Hedonism II - Top Lifestyle Resort in Negril, Jamaica

Question 36.

Isnt the doctrine of the Trinity similar to Christian Hedonism in that it is a label and a doctrine not explicitly taught in the Bible but is nonetheless true?

Answer 36.

Many people have compared the speculative philosophy of Christian Hedonism to the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. The comparison is born on the assumption that extra-biblical labels may be freely created to apply to biblically derived doctrines. This assumption is acceptable enough. The comparison then continues using the logic that since labels are acceptable inventions (albeit they are not found in the Word) Christian Hedonism must be just as acceptable a doctrine as the Trinity because both are loosely based on Scripture, and are therefore both biblical concepts described by "artificial" labels. It is here that the logic of comparison is faulty.

Use of the Trinity as an analogous situation for Christian Hedonism is a false analogy because the Bible very clearly and explicitly teaches us the doctrine of one God consisting of three persons who are also called God. These tenets of the Trinity are based on explicit Bible verses that individually teach us that God is One, the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Three make the One, or, Three in One (Trinity).

In contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity, Christian Hedonism fails to find such specific Bible verses for its primary tenets: the pursuit of ones own pleasure with all ones might is an actual command of Scripture, the pursuit of ones own pleasure is ones highest calling, one must become a Christian Hedonist to see the Kingdom of God and be saved, and the very goal of worship is attaining the pleasure which is found while worshipping God.

Perhaps it can be said another way. The "Trinity" is a very polite label for a gathering of specific Bible verses. It is not a label for a general idea or philosophy. Whereas Christian Hedonism is a philosophy that is not built from specific verses but from a system of logic and assumptions based loosely on abstract interpretations of a wide ranging set of passages that do not actually state or directly teach the very tenets of hedonism.

The "Proofs"

To "prove" the doctrine of the Trinity, you need to demonstrate that the Bible calls God "One God" and not three gods. Then you need to demonstrate that the Bible calls the Father "God", the Son "God", and the Holy Spirit "God".

In fact, the Word does just that. The four tenets of the doctrine of the Trinity are:

Tenet One

: God is One, not Three; God alone is the Alpha and the Omega (the First and Last God)there are no other Gods but He

"Jesus answered, "The foremost is, HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD." (Mark 12:29)

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. " (Isaiah 44:6)

"I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He. " (Isaiah 41:4)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son." (Revelation 21:6,7)

"My glory I will not give to another. Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. " (Isaiah 48:11b,12)

Tenet Two

: The Father is God

"the Father, God, has set His seal." (John 6:27b)

"I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God. " (John 20:17b)

Tenet Three

: The Son is God (the child who is born is actually God Eternal, the first and the last)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (John 1:1,14, 17)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. I, Jesus", (Revelation 22:13, 16a)

For a child will be born to us, a son

will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7)

Tenet Four

: The Holy Spirit is God; and He, as God, appoints gifts to the saints as He wills

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. (1 Corinthians 12:18)

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

And perhaps the best summation passage that aligns the worship of the Father with Jesus being worshipped as the Mighty God Who has all authority, which then is aligned with the fact that all believers are baptized (made to identify with) the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit is Matthew 28:17-20.

When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

While the label "Trinity" may be a polite "made-up" label that describes a deep truth of plain Scriptures, each of the four tenets of the doctrine of the Trinity are expressly supported by direct Scripture. God says that only God is called "the first and the last", yet Jesus calls Himself by that title. We find that Isaiah calls the Son of God, who is born on the Earth, by the name Eternal Father and Mighty God. We read that God is the only One Who assigns the gifts as He desires, but we read that the Holy Spirit is the One who assigns the gifts as He wills.

This is not a game of logic or a philosophy lesson. The names God chose for Himself are equally applied to Jesus and the Holy Spirit in numerous verses that explicitly say these things. A person does not have to work at trying to find subtle connections between the Son and the Father, and it is not necessary to jump through loops of loosely tied threads of logic to see some minor insight that might lead in the right direction. Scripture spells out the doctrine plainly. Gods name is Eternal Father and His Son is to be called, Eternal Father. God is He Who gives out spiritual gifts, and God is the Holy Spirit who decides what person is to get which gifts. Each tenet of the doctrine is plainly corroborated by a very plain statement from Scripture.

Christian Hedonism Lacks Such Proof Verses

Now compare this to the philosophy of Christian Hedonism. To prove Christian Hedonism you need to demonstrate that the Bible calls devotion to pleasure the greatest pursuit and highest calling of mankind, and you must demonstrate that the Bible commands that one must be converted to Christian Hedonism to be saved, and that the worship of God is only valid when the goal of worship is to attain pleasure.

Tenet One of Christian Hedonism

: the pursuit of your own pleasure in God is a command from the Bible

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

[Note: nowhere in this verse are the words "pursue pleasure" found, nor is it proper to use logic to construe "delight yourself in the Lord" to infer a command to "pursue your own pleasure in God"see

FAQ 29]

Tenet Two of Christian Hedonism

: the Pursuit of Pleasure is the greatest pursuit and highest calling of believers

"The radical implication is that pursuing pleasure in God is our highest calling." (Piper, page 21, The Dangerous Duty of Delight)

[Note: Christian Hedonism offers no Bible passages to support this tenet, so we offer this quote from Dangerous Duty.]

Tenet Three of Christian Hedonism

: one must be converted to Christian Hedonism to be saved

"Unless a man be born again into a Christian Hedonist he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John Piper, Desiring God, page 55)

"Could it be that today the most straightforward biblical command for conversion is not, Believe in the Lord, but, Delight yourself in the Lord?" (John Piper, Desiring God, page 55)

"The pursuit of joy in God is not optional. It is not an extra that a person might grow into after he comes to faith. Until your heart has hit upon this pursuit, your faith cannot please God. It is not saving faith." (John Piper, Desiring God, page 69)

[Note: Christian Hedonism offers no legitimate Bible passages to support this tenet, so we offer these quotes from Desiring God.]

Tenet Four of Christian Hedonism

: the goal of worship is to attain pleasure in God

"I came to see that it is unbiblical and arrogant to try to worship God for any other reason than the pleasure to be had in him." (Piper, Desiring God, page 16, 1996 edition)

[Note: Christian Hedonism offers no legitimate Bible passages to support this tenet, so we offer this quote from Desiring God.]

In fact, the Word says none of those things, anywhere. You cannot even find one passage that acknowledges that there is such as thing as "the pursuit of pleasure", except where that pleasure is utterly lewd and detestable in the sight of God.

Given you cannot find even one passage that elevates pleasure to a valid pursuit of any kind, much less our greatest pursuit (hence the label "hedonism"), it is an even harder task to imagine a Bible versemuch less find onethat requires conversion to hedonism as a condition of salvation.

And finally let us consider the tenet of Christian Hedonism that states that the worship of God is only valid when the goal of worship is to attain pleasure for the worshipper. Again, the diligent Bible student will discover that worship is valid or authentic when it aims to be verbally edifying (1 Corinthians 14:26), calls others to repent from sin (1 Corinthians 14:23-25), and causes us to put our physical bodies into motion serving God and one another (Romans 12:1-13).

It should also be pointed out that worshipping God involves praising Him, and this is often called "shouting with joy to the Lord". Even some of our labors of worship are to be done with "cheer" and with "joy". Yet, what is the purpose or goal of worship: to experience joy and cheer, or, to praise God, edify the saints, and serve one another? The Bible states the goal of worship is to praise God, sometimes accompanied by the expression of joy; edify the saints, sometimes with the heart of cheerfulness; and to serve one another. The goal, according to plain Scripture, is never so that we can experience pleasure, experience joy, or experience cheer. Such experiences are attitudes that can accompany worship, but they are neither the goal nor the test for authenticating worship. Worship may be conducted in fear, in great sadness, or even in depression, and it will still be valid and God-honoring worship.

Consider Psalm 42. The Psalmist said his soul panted for God. Why? Because God had cut off His presence and His temple worship from His people when they were driven into exile by God for their sins. The Psalmist was not giving some romantic notion about his soul desiring a mystical rapturous pleasure of a hedonistic encounter with God as if that were some kind of normative event. The Psalmist was here worshipping God in deep depression that God had withdrawn Himself from him and the people because they had sinned. The Psalmists soul was panting for forgiveness from God, his desire was to quench his sorrow over his sins for which he cried night and day (verse 3). He longed to be able to go to temple again and to have his prayers heard and his sins covered by sacrifice again (verse 4).

Was the Psalmist in Psalm 42 worshipping God any less because his attitude was one of grief and sorrow instead of rapturous pleasure? No. In fact, Jesus, in a parable (Luke 18), said of the tax collector who worshipped in anguish at the temple that his worship caused him to be proclaimed righteous whereas the man who stood up in his self-righteous pleasure and worshipped in his zeal left still in his sin. Such men who worship to attain pleasure and to attain the pleasure of being seen ought to consider with wise discretion and discernment what Jesus said about those who seek their spiritual rewards while still on Earth (Matthew 6:1-6).

When we begin to think and to teach that the worship of God is so that we can attain heights of pleasing emotions we miss the point of worship entirely. It is true that sometimes pleasing emotions accompany or result from praising God or serving others, yet that is not why we are told to serve. Gods motives for giving us these commands is for the edification of others, for meeting the needs of others, for demonstrating to God our dependence and gratitude toward Him.

Worship is outward focused on those who are greater and more important than ourselves. When we get the silly notion that the worship is "for me" we begin quite literally worshipping ourselves.

Doctrine Comes From the Word, Philosophies Have No Such Burden

Christian Hedonism fails the biblical test on all four of its primary tenets. Unlike the doctrine of the Trinity, the philosophy of Christian Hedonism finds no evidential support in the Word. It is entirely a human idea based on human philosophy and human desires. It is made into a religion only when men give its secular foundation religious intent. They then run the risk of repeating the error of the Pharisees, which is elevating ones own ideas to a level of importance even above the plain commands of Scripture, eventually becoming experts at this newly established "tradition" instead of experts at obeying the Word.

For a more in-depth exploration behind whether the philosophy of Christian Hedonism is read out from biblical passages (exegesis) or whether the ideas are read into the Scriptural text (eisegesis) you are invited to read FAQ 30.

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The FAQs on John Piper's "Christian Hedonism" | Searching ...

Hedonism II Photo Album Negril, Jamaica

The photos in our Hedonism ii Photo Album wereeither shot by us, our clients or provided by the resort. If you have recently visited Hedonism ii we invite you to send in your photos for us to display.To contribute you own photos (or trip reports),go to our Contribute Trip Report / Photographs page.

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hedonism ii photo album - Castaways Travel

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After a six-year break from the recording studio, Hellbound Glory makes its return this fall, firing twin barrels of swampy country-blues and roots-rock hedonism on the band's upcoming fourth album, Pinball. Released Friday, October 13th, the record finds the group working with producer Shooter Jennings, another 21st-century outlaw with boots planted on either side of the country-rock divide.

On "Sun Valley Blues #3 (Bloodweiser)," frontman Leroy Virgil sings about the seedy underbelly of his adopted hometown, Reno. It's a city of extremes, filled with "well whiskey and hell-raising women" on one end and "sweet cocaine and high-dollar ladies" on the other. Bowers' narrator is half-lit and eager to explore it all, careening across town with "Bloodweiser running through [his] veins." Set to a soundtrack of slide guitars and blues progressions, the song is both driving and dangerous. (Listen to the song below.)

"Sun valley is a place between hell and heaven, where you could go either way," explains Virgil, who briefly toured under his own name before reviving the Hellbound Glory moniker for Pinball's release. "That's where the blues comes from. And when he's there, the only comfort a bluesman can find is in money, a woman, a bottle, or a song but sometimes, all you got is pinball."

Meanwhile, Jennings, whose label Black Country Rock is releasing Pinball, stars in a promotional video for the album's pre-sale. In the clip below, he's taken hostage by one of Bowers' henchwomen, who tells him, "You have until October 13th to deliver the record."

In reality, Jennings jumped at the chance to work with the band, telling Rolling Stone Country, "I've been a fan of Hellbound Glory from the minute I heard 'em. They're about the most shit-kicking band with Bukowski-worthy lyrics country music has ever seen." The band will play a special release show on October 4th at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, with Jennings also on the bill.

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Hear Hellbound Glory's Hedonistic 'Sun Valley Blues #3 (Bloodweiser)' - RollingStone.com

From left: Abby Quinn, Edie Falco and Jenny Slate appear "Landline."

Jenny Slate and Gillian Robespierre are one of the best actor/director pairings in the industry.

Landline is writer/director Robespierres follow-up to Obvious Child, the 2014 gem of an abortion rom-com flick, which might have been the best independent release of that year. Both films have the same fearless sense of humor, and both are perfect vehicles for Slate and Robespierres working chemistry. As collaborators, the duo has an insatiable energy unlike anything else Ive seen on film. Writer Robespierre has found the perfect muse in actor Slate for her witty, tragic comedies about young adults who still havent figured out how to grow up.

In Landline, Slate plays Dana Jacobs, a misguided 20-something in the mid-1990s whos terrified of stagnancy in her healthy but unvaried engagement so much so that she has an affair with an old flame. Meanwhile, her younger sister Ali (Abby Quinn) and mother Pat (Edie Falco) are dealing with their own identity crises. Ali is a high school senior, a rebellious spirit who would rather party than apply for college. Pat is trying to sort through the aftermath of discovering her husband (John Turturro)is having an affair. Dana and Ali find comfort in each other, and later in their mother, as they struggle to figure out their place in the world.

The characters in Landline are easy to hate. Theyre insufferable, but in a magnetic sort of way. In some ways, its a movie about privilege. Why would middle-class Manhattanites who own a vacation home outside the city be so unhappy? Its a little infuriating to see the Jacobs family make decisions that they know are bad from the outset, but Robespierre also makes them sympathetic. Were reminded of Alis youth in the Rolling Stone covers of Hole and Winona Ryder above her bed. Dana has her sisters same immaturity and self-destructive tendencies, but shes also kind in a way Ali isnt yet. A child at heart, Dana may be, but she also wants to protect her sister from the infidelity around her.

Although Slates is the standout performance of Landline," the performances of her on-screen family are equally formidable. Danas arc is sandwiched between the frenetic angst of her younger sisters generation, which Quinn portrays with the necessary amounts of irritation and hedonism, and the calmer, more resigned one of her mother, depicted by Falco with an almost unnerving steadiness.

Theres a kind of desperation in Landline that isnt as apparent in Obvious Child. Landline is full of dark corners where its characters get lost in self-doubt. In one scene in which Dana voices her anxiety, we get a moment of soul-crushing reality:

Im just trying to figure out if the life I picked for myself is the life I want, she says. And I dont even know if Im allowed to ask that question. Ouch.

Robespierre is great at that kind of existentialism. She lures you in with witty one-liners, and then she breaks your heart. But you always walk out of the theater having learned something about yourself.

Edited by Danya Issawi

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Jenny Slate and Gillian Robespierre shine again in indie comedy 'Landline' - The University Daily Kansan

Podcasts those intimate, accessible and free audio files have revolutionised our listening habits. Podcast subscriptions on iTunes exceeded one billion in 2013, and an ABC survey in 2016 suggested that committed podcast audiences listen to an average of 5 per week, with nearly one in five enthusiasts tuning in to 11 or more weekly.

Podcasts are appealing because they can be tailored to our individual interests with minimal effort and cost, says psychologist and social commentator Sabina Read, who until recently co-hosted the weekly Good Thinking radio program with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. (They no longer make Good Thinking but, fittingly, all their shows are available as podcasts.)

"Podcasts are really a personal learning tool for the masses, whether your interests include sport, relationships, technology, news, health, family or comedy," she says. "They have the benefit of providing easy-to-digest sound bites that allow us to learn and grow while still carrying on with other daily activities like driving to work or walking the dog. There's also something very appealing about listening to people's nuanced voices and emotional tones that can create a sense of human connection."

With hundreds of thousands of podcasts available, it can be tricky to know where to begin. Here's a round-up of some of the best for mind, body and spirit.

In his weekly podcast, author and entrepreneur Jonathan Fields unpicks big topics like meaning, happiness, purpose, creativity, confidence and success. Fields' curiosity means he gives his guests (who range from Bren Brown and Seth Godin to everyday people) the space and time to dive deep.

So many of us are too busy, too stressed and too tired. Brooke McAlary's podcast is the perfect antidote. She explores what can help us live a slower and simpler life, such as developing rituals for gratitude and single-tasking, meditation, screen-free bedrooms and frugal hedonism (yes, it's a thing).

It might sound a bit Oprah-esque, but if you're looking to improve yourself and live your best life, then Carly Jacobs and Kelly Exeter's podcast is for you. Jacobs and Exeter are self-improvement junkies who discuss the side effects of living a hectic life and offer tips, advice and strategies to get your calm on. They present a personable, funny podcast with heaps of life hacks a fresh one each week from learning to say no to being more decisive.

While it has a plain title, Justin Malik's daily podcast is anything but ordinary. A digest of what he calls the internet's best content, Malik narrates blog posts (with permission from their authors) which mainly examine personal development, minimalism and productivity. It could be a recipe for dullness, but Malik is skilled at curating compelling and challenging episodes. With each coming in at around 10 minutes, OLD is a bite-sized summary of what's currently great on the web.

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

If you're someone who likes your wellbeing and health advice backed up by scientific evidence, it's hard to go past this podcast by ABC Radio National. The host, Dr Norman Swan, cuts through medical jargon to make complex topics digestible for listeners who want to know more about subjects such as allergies, the impact of sugar, brain training and brown fat. It's the perfect dose for those who wish their GP was up to date with the latest research and had half an hour to spend with them each week.

How to find great podcasts

Ask your friends what they're listening to.

Search by topic to find the podcast that suits your interests.

You can subscribe to podcasts via platforms such as iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud and PodBean.

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Five podcasts that will benefit your health and wellbeing - The Sydney Morning Herald

Only the date line changes. Exactly a week ago, London, Paris, Brussels, Dhaka, Delhi, Islamabad respectfully made way for Barcelona. Mowing down tourists is the new normal despaired the Evening Standard while Londoners sat transfixed to the too- familiar photograph of a bloodied avenue. Las Ramblas, the very metaphor of hedonism, had been bustling with carefree crowds when a van emerged like a bat out of hell driven with a fervour linked to the promise of heaven. The next Monday, a bomb alert evacuated the same stretch.

East and West have met in terror. True, each had had enough of its own, but now its of a common genre. What demons or angels drive 22-year-olds to get behind a wheel and ram coldly into unsuspecting strangers? And how alert can we be when jihad comes via such everyday objects as a van, kitchen knife or the tiffin box bombs of Mumbai and Delhi.

This column swells from my time on the Ramblas, my awe over something as civilised as a 1.2 km thoroughfare dedicated to pedestrians, leaving vehicles to fend for themselves on its margins. My first encounter with this incredible boulevard came at an international AIDS conference in 2002. It was where Indias HIV-afflicted finally found their voice, and through which a flamboyant Shatrughan Sinha swaggered as health minister. So the many stories to be filed kept me away from Las Ramblass tireless blandishments. But my hotel was right on it, and i went to bed with riffs of laughter and the weeping of violins. In the morning when i walked to catch my tube, it lay exhausted from its multiple orgasms.

Two other visits allowed a more touristy appreciation. Of the Ramblass gilded statue men, the segueing of the worlds accents, the flowers, food and baubles, the eccentric Gaudi architecture just off it, and suave Hispanics seducing over La Riojas or returning from a late-late concert, the men in long formal skirts (you read that right).

Now in London, my two always-must-dos are also stained by recent attacks: the Borough market and Westminster bridge. But the crowds still mill undaunted. Its the most effective thumbed-nose to terror. Or so they say.

***

Alec Smart said: Triple talaq: right decision, hopefully for the right reason.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

See the original post here:

Fear to tread: Should the travel advisory for every place on earth be 'Don't'? - Times of India (blog)

Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband, Austin Forsyth, are on one crazy ride. And not just on the emotional roller coaster known as this life.

No, we're talking about in the literal sense, on dirt bikes.

Just days before their three-month wedding anniversary, they took to the outdoors ... and she dressed for the occasion as only a Duggar can:

The Counting On cast member, 19, donned her traditional, conservative styleof dress - with a striped undershirt underneath the floral frock.

(And protective riding gear, obviously. Safety first!)

I always love getting to do new things & go on new adventures with my man! Joy-Anna captioned the photos above and below.

#firsttimedirtbiking #loveyouforeverandalways.

Joy-Anna and Austin, in the first photo, are seen on on separate bikes; Joy then wraps her arms around her husband, 22, on the same one.

Some might argue that wearing a flowing dress while dirt biking is unconventional, even dangerous, with all of that fabric and machinery.

She does not seem deterred in the least, though.

The Duggar dress code, and how it evolves (or doesn't) with the adult women after they marry continues to fascinate fans and critics.

Jinger Duggar wearing pants and shorts has become a thing lately, and yet it's only permissible because her husband is cool with it.

Many fans are no doubt thrilled to know that Jeremy Vuolo doesn't equate jeans with hedonism, but it's a little troubling that it's his call.

While Jinger is really sticking it to Jim Bob left and right these days, Joy-Anna appears to have no such post-wedding inclinations.

People close to them say that Austin's family is more conservative than the Duggars, if that's possible, so it's not a huge shock.

Jessa Duggar has also remained steadfast in her embrace of the code, despite Jim Bob and Ben Seewald clashing over religion.

Not that Joy-Anna hasn't raised eyebrows in other ways;Joy-Anna's "obscene" PDA with Austin was a jaw-dropper for many fans.

In any case, it's hard to believe it's been three months since the couple tied the knot back on May 26 in their native Arkansas.

So far its incredible, Joy-Anna said.

Saying our vows and saying I do and committing our lives to each other is so incredible. Im so blessed to be married to him.

Austin added, Im just looking forward to getting to share my life ... its good times and its challenges, with my best friend."

Of his young wife, Forsyth continued, Having someone there to love me and support me and always be there for me.

Joy-Anna Duggar Wedding Photos: Check Out Mrs. Forsyth's Big Day!

Start Gallery

Pants or no pants, these two are in love.

Every Duggar courtship - and marriage - is different, so it will be interesting to see the path Joy (or Austin) chooses for them in life.

So far, though, Jingerand Jeremy have, by far, set the high water mark for marital independence from the all-powerful Jim Bob.

See original here:

Joy-Anna Duggar Rides Dirt Bike, Wears ... Well, You Gotta See This - The Hollywood Gossip

The boxer and the Biebs

Its no secret that we love our beef here at Celebrity Slam. We love it when the rich and famous decide to turn on one another the more famous, the better.

So you can imagine our delight when word started coming out about the beef brewing between Celebrity Slam Pantheon member Justin Bieber and professional boxer Floyd Mayweather. Theres famous and then theres FAMOUS and these guys are definitely the latter.

It wasnt so long ago that Bieber and Mayweather were weirdly tight. Like, Bieber walking Mayweather to the ring tight. You wouldnt think that a Canadian pop idol and an all-time great boxing champion would have a ton in common especially when theres a two-decade age difference on top of it all but it seemed to work for them. Weird, but whatever.

Unfortunately, things have changed.

It seems that as part of Biebers efforts on changing his lifestyle, hes being advised to think long and hard about which influences he wants to continue to allow in his life. This has led to some difficult decisions; one of which is taking a step back from Mayweather.

According to sources, Bieber wasnt looking for a complete break, but rather just a bit of a remove Mayweathers notorious partying, strip club obsession and general hedonism arent really conducive to the changes that Bieber is looking to make.

But it was when Bieber unfollowed him on Instagram that the proverbial st hit the fan.

By all accounts, Mayweather went absolutely bonkers when that happened. Sources described the boxers reaction as insane and nuclear. Mayweather lashed out at Bieber, calling him a traitor and bemoaning the fact that Mayweather stuck by Biebers side during the singers notorious extended meltdown from a while back.

For his part, Bieber has largely stayed silent on the situation aside from a then-curious refusal to say that Mayweather will knock out Conor McGregor in their upcoming bout that now makes a heck of a lot more sense.

We can all agree that even by the standards set by your usual celebrity beef, this is some crazy nonsense, right?

Floyd Mayweather is one of the best boxers of all time. He has won all 49 of his professional bouts. He is on the verge of cashing the largest paycheck in the history of his sport following his bout with McGregor on Aug. 26; in fact, depending on when you read this, that fight may have already happened.

And hes behaving like a scorned, moody teenager because someone unfollowed him on social media.

Look, we get it hes probably bored. Its not like he has to concern himself with the farce of a fight; McGregor is an excellent MMA fighter who is almost certainly going to get annihilated in a boxing match against a brilliant ring technician like Mayweather.

And its not like Mayweather has ever been averse to saying and doing outlandish things in an effort to draw attention to himself and/or a particular fight. Theres a very real chance that his outrage is almost wholly manufactured as a ploy to get yet more people (like us) talking about him and his fight than otherwise might.

But come on, man its Instagram. Sure, were living in an age built on online fame, but does this really matter? Its not like hanging with Bieber made you noticeably more well-known. Youre already INCREDIBLY FAMOUS. So Bieber isnt part of the Money Team anymore. Who cares? So he wont be walking you to the ring for a fight that as awful as it will undoubtedly be will almost certainly the most-watched boxing match of the century so far. Why do you give a crap? Are you really that upset that a kid half your age doesnt want to hang out with you and throw bags of money at strippers?

Regardless, the outsized response from Mayweather is almost laughable. Its such an extreme take that you almost wonder what if Bieber actually decided to put money on McGregor and the whole thing is a ploy to try and get into Mayweathers head?

If thats the case, the Biebs is an evil genius who is still going to lose that idiotic bet because theres no way McGregor does anything other than get knocked out.

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Celebrity Slam (08/23/2017) - Maine Edge

Clockwise from top left: David Geffen and Joni Mitchell, October 1978; Farrah Fawcett, Cary Grant, and Margaux Hemingway, February 1978; Lorna Luft, Jerry Hall, Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso, June 1979. Background, New Years Eve 1979.

Photographs by Martha Cooper (background), Robin Platzer/Twin Images (Luft), Allan Tannenbaum/SohoBlues.com (Fawcett), Russell C. Turiak (Geffen).

The late, great music mogul Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder and longtime chairman of Atlantic Records, called Studio 54 the greatest club of all time. And this from a man who had spent thousands of hours over several decades at El Morocco and the Copacabana, Annabels in London, and Rgines in Paris. In retrospect, 54 has become the stuff of legend and myth: the Valhalla of Hedonism, the Taj Mahal of Free Love, the Camelot of Nightlife. Like the Kennedy White House, it is a lost paradise never to be found again. Yet its reign as the worlds No. 1 nightclub was brief, from its riotous opening night, in 1977, to the surreal going away party for its creators and impresarios, Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, in February 1980a fleeting but unforgettable moment of Pure Fun between the Era of Protest and the Age of Money. Studio 54 was more than a disco, it was a sociological phenomenon and a historical event, which is why it continues to inspire essays, books, TV shows, documentaries, and feature films 40 years after it opened. It was something that could only have happened when it did and where it did: New York in the late 1970s. Getting in was no easy task, so if you did, you felt as much of a star as the movie stars, rock stars, sports stars, political stars, fashion stars, and society stars that were everywhere you turned. As executive editor of Andy Warhols Interview magazine, I was there on a near nightly basis. So much so that I was quoted in Vogue declaring, I live at Studio 54. By the end of those three wild, giddy, divinely mad years, I had a new line: Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco; I left my liver at Studio 54. Fortunately, I survived.

Adapted from the foreword to Studio 54, by Ian Schrager, to be published this month by Rizzoli.

At the 1980 going away party for Studio 54s co-owners, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, Diana Ross serenaded the crowd with Come See About Me, from atop the D.J. booth.

Lorna Luft, Jerry Hall, Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso, June 1979.

Studio 54

Farrah Fawcett, Cary Grant, and Margaux Hemingway, February 1978.

Clockwise from top left: David Geffen and Joni Mitchell, October 1978.

New Years Eve 1979.

PreviousNext

At the 1980 going away party for Studio 54s co-owners, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, Diana Ross serenaded the crowd with Come See About Me, from atop the D.J. booth.

Photograph by Richard Corkery/New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images.

Lorna Luft, Jerry Hall, Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso, June 1979.

By Robin Platzer/Twin Images.

Studio 54

By Dustin Pittman.

Farrah Fawcett, Cary Grant, and Margaux Hemingway, February 1978.

By Allan Tannenbaum/SohoBlues.com.

Clockwise from top left: David Geffen and Joni Mitchell, October 1978.

By Russell C. Turiak.

New Years Eve 1979.

By Martin Cooper.

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Why Studio 54 Still Lives on in Our Imaginations - Vanity Fair

Editor's note: This essay is part of an ongoing Deseret News opinion series exploring ideas and issues at the intersection of faith and thought.

If man stops believing in God, he will start believing in anything. attributed to G.K. Chesterton

The Judeo-Christian tradition has many prohibitions against idolatry but few against atheism. Perhaps early theists understood that humans are homo religious religious beings by nature who will always seek out an object of worship. Joshua did not say, Choose you this day whether you will serve, but, Choose you this day whom ye will serve. According to novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, If a man rejects God, he will have to worship an idol of wood, gold, or ideas. Since we all need meaning and higher purpose in our lives, there is no way out of worship, there is only a choice of what to worship (something even evolutionary biologists are now acknowledging).

In our current society, worship of the Judeo-Christian God is being replaced by the worship of a God of History, the deity of the Religion of Progress. This religion permeates our culture, largely shapes public discourse, and has a major impact on popular thinking. It can be summarized in a three-part creed:

1. History is unfolding in a pre-determined direction

2. The enlightened know what that direction is

3. That direction is good

In the past, the Religion of Progress was embodied in movements and theories such as Marxism, fascism, and Hegelianism; today it is alive and well on both sides of our political spectrum. The left pays overt homage to the God of History with the progressive label, while many on the right believe history inevitably points to peace and prosperity under the free market or to universal democracy through American military intervention. In the Religion of Progress, History is an omnipotent, omnipresent force that acts in and through all things, and will bring eventual salvation to society. The arc of history, we are often told, bends towards justice.

But unlike other deities, the God of History makes few demands; just make sure youre on the right side of history. Individuals cant change the God of Historys doings, they can only align themselves with his will, thereby proving themselves to be among the elect.

For most versions of the Religion of Progress, another sign of virtue is powerlessness. This view replaces the mistaken 19th century imperialist maxim might makes right with the opposite but equally mistaken maxim might makes wrong. People who belong to historically powerful or advantaged groups males, whites, the wealthy, Americans are often viewed as inherently evil by virtue of their perceived position of privilege, while anyone who belongs to a historically disadvantaged group women, racial minorities, the poor, inhabitants of the Third World are righteous by virtue of their perceived lack of power. Being born into privilege is the Religion of Progress equivalent of original sin.

Those willing to approach the question of power rationally rather than dogmatically realize that belonging to a group does not, in itself, confer any moral standing on someone there are good and bad people in all groups but the God of History denies agency. People are saved either through identification with an oppressed group or through identification with the Religion of Progress being on the right side of history.

Like most religious believers, history worshippers dont arrive at their beliefs through rational inquiry, but through a faith commitment. The doctrines of the Religion of Progress are final, absolute and closed to further discussion. Just as Christians dont question the will of Christ, history worshippers dont question the will of history. Since those disagreeing with any of these dogmas are clearly on the wrong side of history, they are not to be engaged and debated, but marginalized and silenced.

Since young adults are particularly given to religious zeal, its understandable that the most fanatical history worshippers would be found on college campuses. The high priests of the Religion of Progress (the faculty) convert and instruct their acolytes (students) in seminaries (classrooms) and then turn them loose to stop anyone from polluting the church (university) with blasphemy (dissenting ideas). You cant debate God (history), you can only shut down those who oppose his will.

Accordingly, Charles Murray, Heather Macdonald, Christina Hoff Sommers, Bret Weinstein and others who dissent from the Religion of Progress are heretics to be driven from the temple by violence if needs be. The same religious zeal that led Puritans to persecute innocents as witches in 1690s Salem is leading students to persecute innocents as heretics today. The problem with colleges is not as is commonly believed that they have become secularized; the problem is that they have become temples of a new religion.

History worship is attractive and growing for two primary reasons: permissiveness and popularity. As a matter of doctrine, the Religion of Progress denies human agency and therefore absolves people of responsibility for their actions. Since virtue comes from being on the right side of history, rather than from repentance, adherents to the Religion of Progress can freely indulge in substance abuse, sexual promiscuity and general hedonism. Anyone who condemns such behavior is clearly an opponent of the Religion of Progress and can be accordingly dismissed as, intolerant, bigoted, reactionary, racist, sexist, fascist, imperialist, etc. This gives history worshippers a sense of moral superiority to go along with their hedonism.

The Religion of Progress is not only false but also dangerous. The great bulwark of religious freedom in America has been pluralism, but history worship is approaching dominant status and we increasingly see it imposing itself on society. People who dare defy history (by, say, opposing same-sex marriage) have been harassed, threatened, persecuted and fired from jobs. Gods will must be enforced, they believe, and once a majority concurs, religious freedom will be subject to majority whims.

Since it does not acknowledge itself as a faith, history worship poses dangers that other religions do not. History worshippers, seeing themselves as the enlightened vanguard for a better world rather than the religious zealots they are, feel justified in oppressing and silencing those who disagree. While other religions are subject to legal constraints, such as the separation of church and state which (rightly) denies them public funding, we are all compelled to subsidize the Religion of Progress through taxation (e.g., public funding of universities, media and art).

Because the Religion of Progress combines the authority of reason with the zealotry and dogmatism of faith, we should all be concerned about its growth. History worship threatens to make our society less rational, more politicized and, ultimately, less free.

His views are his own.

Hyrum Lewis is a professor of history at BYU-Idaho and, this year, a visiting scholar at Stanford University. This article is adapted from his book, "There is a God: How to Respond to Atheism in the Last Days" (Cedar Fort Inc., 2017).

Read more from the original source:

Op-ed: Latter-day Saints beware the false god of 'history' - Deseret News

Putting your faith in a festival on its first year can be a risky business. With so much choice already out there in the summer festival market, especially with festivals on the European mainland becoming an increasingly more attractive prospect year on year to young dance music fans, the prospect of spending another weekend in the UK can also seem a little dull to many seeking the full festival experience. That said, 7,500 people went ahead and placed their trust in the team behind Wales Gottwood Festival to deliver on a brand new event last week in the form of Houghton, a four-day festival situated on the grounds of Houghton Hall in Norfolk. Its fair to say though that they wont have gone home disappointed, with the weekend leaving me in little doubt that Id just experienced a new benchmark for UK festivals, specifically those geared towards fans of a certain kind of electronic music.

Teaming up with longtime fabric resident Craig Richards, who acted as a curator and the main face for the festival, the team pulled together a weekend that was about far more than its line-up, though that wasnt too shabby itself either, with the likes of Ricardo Villlalobos, Andrew Weatherall, Margaret Dygas, Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Hunee and many more featuring, the line-up balancing the more obvious ticket sellers on the regular electronic music festival circuit with names that dont crop up on quite as many of the bigger UK festivals line-ups - take Nicolas Lutz, Convextion, Sonja Moonear, Binh and Romanian pairing Raresh and Rhadoo. Richards, who clocked up around 20 hours of playing time over the weekend, in the form of multiple solo sets as well as back-to-backs with Ricardo Villalobos and Nicolas Lutz, could be seen around the site through the weekend taking in sets from other DJs and live acts - it was hard to believe that hed slept a wink all weekend.

Mostly that suspicion will be down to one of the vital elements, amongst a number of factors, that confirmed Houghtons standing as the UKs best new festival, that being their ability to secure a 24-hour license, something that is relatively unheard of at a UK festival. This meant that the music across various parts of the site didnt finish between Friday morning and the very early hours of Monday morning. The soundsystems, so frequently a point of complaint for those at electronic music festivals in the UK, impressed through the weekend too, save for a dip on Sunday night during Hunees closing set at The Quarry - a disappointment no doubt, but also perhaps a small price to pay for just how smoothly the rest of the weekend ran, as well as one of the most generous licenses doled out to a UK festival in recent memory.

A notably friendly crowd as well as a security presence that didnt once seem overbearing over the course of the festivals four days gave Houghton a rare sense of unworldliness that left me feeling completely refreshed by the events end. Empty references to hedonism, as well as the values of peace, love, unity and respect, in dance music and clubbing are all too common today, but looking back over my weekend at Houghton, I can sincerely say that I experienced something very special, and feel blessed to have been one of the first to be a part of it.

UK crowds do have an appetite for 24-hour partying

One of the main selling points for Houghton in the build-up to the festival was its promise of extended sets given to the wealth of DJ talent booked to play - something that was essential in order to fully take in the style of music played by people such as Margaret Dygas, Nicolas Lutz, Binh and Ricardo Villalobos. In an age of festivals packing their line-ups to the brim, as well as the growing popularity of event clubbing from promoters like The Warehouse Project, meaning that DJs frequently play sets of little more than 90 minutes, Houghton offered something different.

Just a few days before the festival came around though, Houghton revealed exactly how they would be accommodating these plans, having procured a 24-hour license which would see the music roll endlessly at the festival site for just under three full, consecutive days. This wasnt without its challenges of course. Planning sleep breaks was made very difficult as a result, something I learnt the hard way after an intended nap turned into an extended sleep and a missed set by Binh.

While not all of the festivals stages ran without a break, there was always plenty to see or do on site across those days. Ben UFO rolled through a four-hour set at The Quarry to see of Friday night, his slot allowing him to shift between UK garage, smooth 90s tech-house and wigged out, Phillip Glass-sampling minimal from Ricardo Villalobos, the extended slot giving him more room to bridge the gap between disparate sounds than he would at most festivals. Romanians Raresh and Rhadoo rolled through around nine hours of classy minimal and house on another side of the site, at The Warehouse, getting started when Ben UFO was an hour into his set at The Quarry and eventually wrapping up sometime around midday.

Nicolas Lutz, one of the weekends sure highlights, brought his trademark sound of electro-oriented minimal and breaks to The Pavilion stage on Saturday night playing for four hours at nightfall and setting the stage suitably for one of the weekends most anticipated sets following him: Craig Richards and Ricardo Villalobos eight-hour back-to-back. Starting at 3am and coming to an end many hours after the sun had risen, the set was a masterclass in tempering energy levels when tasked with an extended slot, starting slowly and building very gradually. An early highlight came as Villalobos teased the opening synths to LFOs self-titled 1991 track for what felt like an age, chopping it in occasionally with another early bleep classic in the form of Detromentals Rewind, also originally released in 1991.

The mixing and selections got more audacious as the set went on - at one point Im sure I heard Villalobos pull off a very clever mix with two copies of the same record, while I was frequently left looking on in amazement at how he would pair other seemingly mismatched records with each other with such flair. Some hours into their set, as the sun rose behind the pair, Richards cunningly offset Villalobos more wonky selections with M Dubs UK garage remix of Body Killin by Vincent J. Alvis, a moment that felt like coming up for air and naturally drew a triumphant response from those in attendance. The Pavilion area started out very busy for their set but with the eight-hour set time, people eventually gave in to rolling in and out, allowing the area some breathing space, with Richards and Villalobos very much remaining in their element throughout, maintaining an engaged audience at the front until they eventually finished playing.

The 24-hour license certainly wasnt Houghtons only fine point, but it was one of its most unique, allowing it to stand out from all other UK competitors. With dancers constantly rotating between the campsite and stages at all hours of the day and night, it seemed that people were grasping the extended partying hours with both hands too, and proved that there might just be an appetite for more 24-hour clubbing opportunities in the UK. Promoters The Hydra were granted a 24-hour license at their former Studio Spaces hub a few years ago but never used it and have now moved on to focusing on Sunday daytime sessions at Londons Ministry Of Sound for the rest of the year. Similarly, fabric only host one non-stop day and night party each year in October for their birthday.

Increasingly, large promoters in London, such as The Hydra, are making a shift to hosting daytime events on Sundays, allowing audiences to catch world-class DJs in clubs and be in bed in time for work the next morning. I understand why this might be an attractive prospect to many, but theres a niggling sense of conservatism about it all sitting at the back of my mind. Complicated licensing negotiations have of course played a large part in ensuring that UK cities dont enjoy the extended nightlife hours afforded to many clubs in Berlin and Amsterdam, but perhaps, where possible, it might be interesting to start experimenting with more extended parties, taking Houghtons lead. We might then start to see the four-hour sets that have become the club standard in Berlin make their way to these shores too.

Location is key

Alongside the 24-hour partying that the festival allowed for, Houghtons setting was also key in creating the kind of utopian atmosphere that could be felt through the weekend with a number of excellently located stages, as well as plenty of room for wandering. With a relatively limited capacity, the campsite was limited to one large field and easy to navigate if you found yourself wanting to get some rest back at your tent, while the main music arena was mostly populated around another field and the lake on Houghton Halls grounds.

Dotted around the lake was a floating restaurant, a tent hosting workshops and life drawing classes and The Pavilion which consisted of a wooden stage sitting directly in front of the lake amongst the trees of the forest. The area hosted standout sets from Craig Richards and Ricardo Villalobos, Nicolas Lutz, Saoirse (whose sleek house and minimal-oriented selections were just the ticket to get people who might have already been feeling worse for wear going again on Saturday afternoon) and Convextion presenting a live set. The closing hours at the stage on Sunday night were handed over to Gerd Janson and Roman Flgel. Janson, the prime candidate for a final night party set drew for crowdpleasers across his three-hour set time, slotting in Biceps Just as well as Pangaeas recent festival-ready edit of Nomad classic Devotion before closing on an edit of Underworlds Born Slippy. With the sound dipping over at The Quarry, a hollowed out bowl which played host to Joy Orbison, Optimo, Andrew Weatherall and more, for Hunees closing set, The Pavilion felt like the right place to see the final night out with Flgel taking a more subtle approach than Janson before him, drawing on more hard-edged techno and jacking house before closing the festival with a remix of Arthur Russells This Is How We Walk On The Moon.

Vladimir Ivkovic and Ivan Smagghe played for around five hours on Saturday night in a small dome, building gradually and making use of the confined surroundings and smaller crowd to go deeper, playing the kind of cosmic chuggers that they can frequently be heard drawing for together, bringing out increasingly outrageous dance moves from those gathered as the music grew weirder and more sleazy. Having spent most of the weekend happily moving around the stages in the main area though, it wasnt until Sunday that I discovered what the secret Terminus stage had to offer. Deliberately left off the site map, with hints left for people to reach the stage by catching a train somewhere on the site, the stage was hidden right near the main entrance to the site, and offered a nice midpoint between the Pavilions leafy surroundings and the Quarrys swampy setting. It was at the Terminus stage that Craig Richards played his final set of the weekend, alongside Nicolas Lutz, just five hours after finishing up his eight-hour set with Ricardo Villalobos. The hours hed already clocked up on the decks by this point still didnt seem to have got to him though as the pair, by now seasoned back-to-back partners, swapped records for four hours, bringing it home with the groove-laden Underground Resistance-released Black Moon Rising from Scan-7 amongst other dazzling cuts.

The Quarry, while perhaps the most obvious setting for most of the festivals headline bookings, unfortunately couldnt handle the demand at peak times with sizeable queues forming each night to catch the likes of Move D, Joy Orbison, Andrew Weatherall and Optimo, and The Warehouse lacked character in comparison to most of the other stages. These are very minor niggles in what was an outstanding first year from Houghton though, with the festival clearly putting a great deal of thought into how to use the location to its fullest potential, even offering revellers sculpture tours of the festivals grounds.

Yurts make for the best party spots

East London bar Brilliant Corners popped up at Baldocks Farr Festival earlier this summer with a yurt complete with an audiophile soundsystem supplied by The Analogue Foundation, mimicking the spotless system that could be found at the bar itself. Hosting scheduled and secret sets across the weekend, many of those at the festival reported back that it was one of the finest points of the weekend this year. The same could be said for Brilliant Corners display at Houghton, once again setting up shop in a sizeable, yet intimate yurt for the weekend, speaker stacks set up around the dome to envelope everyone inside with one of the crispest audio experiences theyll doubtless ever experience at a festival.

Hosting second, more intimate sets from the likes of Hunee and Floating Points, it was a popular attraction with revellers invited to enter the tent via a small opening that required most to bow down to get inside, entering under a lit-up sign just outside reading GIANT STEPS, a reference to the John Coltrane album of the same name. A vintage Technics unit and rotary mixer were set up for each DJ to play on inside with the system and set-up encouraging each DJ to dig deep and draw for the kind of music that would sound best in such a surrounding.

Playing some hours before his closing set at The Quarry on Friday night, Ben UFO made full use of his 90-minute set time starting out slow with balearic ballads such as Blue Gas Shadows From Nowhere before winding up at frenetic jazz numbers in the form of Jackie McLean and Michael Carvins De I Conahlee Ah via sultry reggae and dub such as Ghosts Come Back Again. The tent erupted with every new selection, the intensity ramping up ever further as he further tested the system with Exemens screwface-inducing Far East followed by a volley of jungle including Fracture & Neptunes Colemanism. Fully spent, I wandered out of the tent in an attempt to recollect my head a few minutes before the sets end safe in the knowledge that Id already witnessed one of the weekends undoubted highlights in a truly special setting.

View original post here:

Things Learned At: Houghton 2017 - The Quietus

Contemporary Examples

His life of hedonism suddenly seems empty when he begins to fall in love with Grace.

Those avatars of hedonism, The Europeans, are aghast at discovering that the average American vacation lasts for just 4.1 days.

Georgia Congressman Bob Barr warned that the flames of hedonism . . . are licking at the very foundations of our society.

But the pleasures of vengeance and hedonism prove a dead end for Wanda.

After a night of hedonism, head out into Louisiana'sCajun Country.

Historical Examples

And no hedonism, no theory of rights, could supply an operating rule for conduct.

Veblen has made it perfectly clear that particular matters of theory are affected by the presupposition of hedonism.

His own view is that the Austrians are not essentially bound up with hedonism.

The sonnets on the Days breathe the same quaint medieval hedonism.

Honora's amazement at her cousin's hedonism gave way to contempt for it.

British Dictionary definitions for hedonism Expand

/hidnzm; hd-/

the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of principle

indulgence in sensual pleasures

Derived Forms

hedonic, hedonistic, adjectivehedonist, noun

Word Origin

C19: from Greek hdon pleasure

Word Origin and History for hedonism Expand

hedonism in Culture Expand

In ethics, the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good in life. Some hedonists, such as the Epicureans, have insisted that pleasure of the entire mind, not just pleasure of the senses, is this highest good.

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Hedonism | Define Hedonism at Dictionary.com

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Reviewed 3 days ago

I enjoyed my stay at Hedo. The only problem I had was that it rained everyday at 3 PM. I usually come there in January and there is very little rain if any. Don't know if I will make it this January due to a...More

This business uses tools provided by TripAdvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.

Dear la2762, Thank you for your continued loyalty. We all miss Deon and have him constantly in our thoughts and prayers. We hope the family illness is minimal and that we see you home again soon. Pursue Pleasure, Randymon DOSM Hedonism II

vacationjunky2016

Hamilton, New Jersey

Reviewed June 29, 2017

This was our 5th trip and counting. The trip this year was all the sweeter having won 3 nights at the repeaters guest party last year. On that note we won another 3 nights this year for Go Green efforts at our room. Hey, me...More

Hedo Greetings vacationjunky2016 aka bluecupcouple: Thank you so much for taking the time to post this great review. We are so very pleased to read about how much you enjoyed your 5th stay with us. A particularly thank you for mentioning some of the wonderful...More

We spent 4 days at Hedo in Negril .All I can say is wow, as soon as our private driver pulled up and we walked in the lobby we were greeted with a hug by the bell man and he rushed off to get me...More

Hedo Greetings dvd1349, Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We are very pleased to know that you enjoyed your stay at Hedonism II and that our staff helped make your vacation even more special. We look forward to welcoming you home...More

Scott W

Indianapolis, Indiana

Reviewed 5 days ago

This was our first trip to Hedo. We were warmly greeted in the lobby upon our arrival and we each had a drink in our hand within less than 5 minutes of arrival. The lobby staff were very nice, the check in process was fast....More

Dear Scott W, Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We appreciate your comments, especially the shout outs for our amazing staff. As you mentioned the room, we are in the process of updating many of the rooms so when you return...More

I haven't been here since July 2012. All I can say is wow. Rooms upgraded Entertainment Staff Improved. Winston is doing one heck of a job with choreography. I knew him when he just started. So proud of him. Food Upgraded Top shelf Alcohol at...More

Hedo Greetings Bj S, Thank you so much for taking the time to post your review. We are very pleased to read your comments and happy that you have FINALLY returned after so many years. Our owners continue to make improvements and enhancements so come...More

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Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube

WHEN DUBLIN OLDSCHOOL first hit theatres in 2014 it was met with widespread acclaim.

The play written by and starring Emmet Kirwan (Sarah and Steve; Heartbreak) follows would-be DJ Jason (Kirwan) through a drug-fuelled weekend odyssey along the streets of Dublin.

Jason works in a record shop in the city centre. He has plans to be a top DJ but loves going on the session at the weekends: taking drugs, going to clubs and raves and generally just overdoing it.

The play follows Jason along his path of hedonism and self-destruction as he navigates through the weekend. Along the way in between raves, drug busts and longing for his ex-girlfriend Jason meets and reconnects with his estranged older brother Daniel (played by Ian Lloyd Anderson), a homeless drug addict.

Kirwan (left) and Anderson (right) in the promo for the Dublin Oldschool play.

The play was notable in that Kirwan and Anderson were the only two actors occupying a completely bare stage. Dublin and an entire cast of assorted, well-sketched characters is brought alive by Jasons quickfire narration and the words and actions.

Fast-paced, descriptive poetry carries the audience along for a wild ride that is both a celebration of youthful hedonistic drug culture and poignant tale about family breakdown the dangers and sadness of addiction.

Fast forward three years later to this week and Kirwan and a cast of youthful actors were wedged into Anseo bar on Camden Street, along with a full production team.

TheJournal.iegot a behind-the-scenes look as shooting has commenced on a movie version of Dublin Oldschool, which will film in locations across Dublin and Wicklow for four weeks.

From play to movie

Kirwan and Anderson reprise their roles as the two lost brothers, but alongside them now will be a full cast each playing one of the excellent side characters.

These are people like Dave The Rave a posh sounding Dublin drug dealer with a one track mind for getting out of his mind.

The side acts are all brought brilliantly to life by Anderson onstage, and aside from the strong emotional centre of the brothers relationship provide the play with its best moments.

Kirwan (left) and director Dave Tynan on set. Source: Allen Kiely

Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful/Ransom), Sena Kerslake (A Date for Mad Mary/Cant Cope, Wont Cope), Mark OHalloran (Adam & Paul/Historys Future/The Virtues) and Stephen Jones (Red Rock/Love Hate) will all feature in the movie.

It will be interesting to see how the ensemble cast adapt and make each character their own.

The movie is directed by Dave Tynan (who co-wrote it), a longtime collaborator with Kirwan.

The mens partnership won much attention earlier this year for the short spoken word film Heartbreak which was written and performed by Kirwan and directed by Tynan.

The video tells the story Young One (played byJordanne Jones) a young teenager who becomes a mother and encounters hardship and hypocrisy as she raises her child.

Heartbreak went viral and won acclaim for both men, with Kirwans words To stand in awe of mn becoming a rally cry for the womens rights movement and the Repeal the Eighth campaign.

Tynan and Kirwan also collaborated on the excellent Just Saying spoken word video way back in 2012, when the recession still seemed like it was many years from ending.

Just Saying written and directed by Tynan and performed by Kirwan as he walks through Dublin at night may give a glimpse into what the pair are looking to accomplish with Dublin Oldschool.

Here we have the same themes of a lost youth culture, references to weekends of drink and drugs, and the whole thing underpinned as Dublin Oldschool is by a deep but conflicted love of Dublin city and all that goes with it.

With a budget this time of 1 million from the Irish Film Board and Windmill Lane Studios, the duo will have a bit more scope to expand on and convey their vision in the feature length film.

The movie is bound to differ in many ways from the play, and is Emmet Kirwans first feature length film. Speaking to the press outside Anseo this week, he was confident about pulling off the translation from stage to screen.

I dont want to give too much away but weve kind of distilled the essence of the play into the film script, he said.

You get to show all the things that youve only talked about.

The good stuff in the play will still be in the film especially the words.

Distribution and sales for Dublin Oldschool are handled by Element Pictures and the film is due for cinema release in 2018.

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Noticed the cameras around town? They're for the upcoming movie about a drug-fuelled weekend in Dublin - thejournal.ie

Time off before university used to mean a non-stop party, but the jobs market demands more now

In years gone by, gap years meant 12 months of full-moon parties in Thailand and cannabis-infused lassi in India. But as students contemplate their future after last weeks A-level results, those considering travelling are taking their break more seriously: these days the gap year is all about your CV.

Its been a really noticeable change, says Tim Fryer of student travel specialist STA. Weve seen a shift away from a gap year centred around hedonism. Now those taking time out after A-levels, or after their degree, are choosing their trip with one eye on what theyre going to tell their future employers. Theyre looking for skills and qualities they can demonstrate. Its almost a stepping stone on your career.

Emma Beynon of the gap-year organiser

See the original post here:

Got past clearing? Now comes the gap year and it's not just about fun - The Times

AS the 96-year-old Communist Party of China (CPC) prepares to hold its 19th national congress later this year, the world is watching how the long-ruling party will remain vigorous in the future.

In fact, the CPCs efforts in self-reform since its 18th national congress held five years ago have provided answers to that question.

Xi Jinping, who took office as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012, has led the efforts to fight corruption, calling on the whole Party to stay fully alert and describing corruption as a threat to the Partys very survival.

Nothing is off-limits in the anti-corruption efforts, and zero tolerance has been shown toward corruption, Xi said at the seventh plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) earlier this year.

On December 4, 2012, the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting to deliberate on the eight-point frugality code to address si feng, or four forms of decadence formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance.

According to the CCDI, as of the end of May, a total of 170,400 violations against the eight-point frugality code had been investigated across the country, with 231,100 people punished, including 20 ministerial-level Party officials.

Yang Xiaodu, deputy secretary of the CCDI, said, The tests we are facing now are no less challenging than those in war times, only in different forms. If our Party members cant resist the risks of corruption, they could end up using power for illegitimate purposes.

On April 19, 2013, the Politburo decided to launch education activities within the Party.

The three stricts and three earnests campaign, advanced by Xi in 2014, urges officials to be strict in morals, power and self-discipline, and to be honest in decisions, business and behavior.

The Party also advanced a campaign for members at all levels to study the theoretical and practical issues of Party building in an effort to strengthen ideology and Communist beliefs while serving the people.

The Party has shown hardened resolve in the fight against corruption when the Central Committee decided to investigate and punish senior officials for discipline violations, including Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, Ling Jihua and Su Rong.

The Party not only exercises self-discipline within the country, but also reaches abroad to hunt down fugitives.

Yang Xiuzhu, who was once number one on the list of Chinas top 100 fugitives released in an Interpol red notice, turned herself in to the country in November 2016 after 13 years on the run.

So far, over 40 fugitives on the Interpol red list have either voluntarily returned or been extradited to China, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

In November 2013, the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee required innovation in the disciplinary inspection system, focusing on problems related to corruption, Party rules and regulations as well as the Partys leadership.

The CPC has carried out inspection work covering CPC organizations in provincial-level regions, central CPC and government organs and major state-owned enterprises, according to Li Xiaohong, an official with the central inspection group.

According to the CCDI, from 2012 to the end of 2016, 240 centrally administered officials were investigated, with 223 receiving punishments. A total of 57,000 Party members took the initiative to confess to their wrongdoings in 2016.

Meanwhile, the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, the top legislature, approved a pilot reform program to establish an integrated supervision system that will see the establishment of local supervisory commissions at three levels province, city and county.

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Nothing is off-limits in the Party's anti-graft efforts - Shanghai Daily (subscription)