Tag: convention

Fire Boat Festival (Lai Heua Fai), marking the End of Buddhist Lent on October 7, 2025. Coinciding with the full moon of the 11th lunar month

Laos: Rainy Season Retreat Comes to an End for Buddhist Monks! (13.11.2025)

Beyond the spiritual rituals, the festival grounds came alive with vibrant activity as local vendors showcased a wide array of goods, ranging from traditional foods and drinks to handmade crafts, clothing, and household items. The lively marketplace added a festive touch, transforming the event into not just a religious celebration, but also a vibrant community gathering.

Well-organized and secure, the event provided a safe and joyful environment for all attendees. It stood as a testament to Laos’ rich cultural heritage, while also promoting environmental consciousness and community unity.

As the glowing boats drifted peacefully down the Mekong and candlelight danced in the night breeze, the Fire Boat Festival once again proved to be a captivating blend of faith, folklore, and festivity—a timeless tradition that continues to illuminate the hearts of those who take part, year after year.

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Transgender Liberation Means Social Revolution!

UK: Assessing the Trans State of Play! (20.4.2025)

What, then, is causing all the controversy? To put it simply, neither side in the argument seems to understand the law – with both making assumptions that are not true. The anti-Trans movement mistakenly thinks Trans-ism has been outlawed – whilst the pro-Trans lobby believes something tangible has been taken away from them. The truth is that the pro-Trans lobby never achieved a change in the law as it stands. What the pro-Trans lobby achieved was a voluntary alteration of the reading of the current law – so that its limitations were interpreted throughout society in a certain (flexible) manner. There may have been an “approximation” of parity between the existing law – and the intended changes the Trans movement wished to make (this may be interpreted as a “high water-mark” in the Trans anti-capitalist offensive).

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Trans Workers are Workers!

Emails: Empowering “Trans” from the Left! (20.2.2024)

But here’s the thing – the trans movement is knocking down this fabricated house of cards and in that respect is Revolutionary. It is Revolutionary because these constructs are Bourgeois and are used to cement capitalist society in place. Reaction left and right complicates this matter. The problem is that trans ideology inevitably hits the harsh reality of biological function – a reality that attracts the greatest reaction. Of course, science can and does (to a certain degree) address this issue in a manner that was not possible during the lifetime of Marx and Engels – although there is a strong argument that both advocated the complete destruction of Bourgeois norms and values – and I would agree. Trans is not new – it just seems new due to its widespread emergence and toleration within Bourgeois society. 

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Genealogy: ‘DARIИGOLD’ – Provenance of a First-Name! (22.9.2023)

I hope this lady lived a long and happy life free from pain – as out of her genetics I have come into being -and so have my children! Over the years I have broached the subject of her ‘first’ or ‘Christian’ name – ‘Daringold’ – with a number of academic experts who state that they have never encountered this name before and that it must be the consequence of a ‘copying’ mistake or ‘hearing’ error! This certainly happens as in the past (particularly the 17th century CE) the English languish was not yet ‘Standardised’ and illiteracy abounded! Scribes (or ‘Scriveners’) were highly skilled – but these educated individuals often spelt the same word in different ways – even when this word appeared on the same page (Shakespeare was famous for ding this in his original texts)!

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