2010.12.11 02:11 katui A reddit all about dual sport motorcycles
2019.06.02 16:08 leonardskinner33 monicasneaker
2011.10.08 02:09 thankyouforthevenom Tim Burton
2024.05.16 04:30 ArtfullyAwesome Does anyone know what dragon toy I used to have?
2024.05.16 01:55 TheGoldenLeaper Enravel Overview
2024.05.16 00:59 lfg1985wb [WTS] Proof Sets, Wheaties, World Silver & Gold!
2024.05.16 00:49 Free2nd Are the mono songs on Revolver and Sgt Pepper Super Deluxe any different from the 2009 Mono CD set?
2024.05.15 22:00 prm36 Advice on capital gains tax and property held in trust
2024.05.15 21:54 kayakero What is the Bitcoin Rainbow Chart and how to use it?
Bitcoin Rainbow Chart (BRC) is a novel way to visualize the price behavior of BTC. Innovative and original: the chart draws attention by superimposing a rainbow on the quote line. submitted by kayakero to CapitalistExploits [link] [comments] This is an especially useful tool for long-term investors, leaving intraday volatility aside. It uses a statistical model based on a logarithmic growth curve that, through colored bands, allows predictions to be made in a simple and direct way. Why you should use Bitcoin Rainbow Chart?Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin technical analysis has been based on traditional tools, such as moving averages, Fibonacci, Bollinger bands, etc. For determining entry points, they are relatively useful, but optimally measuring price fluctuations remains a challenge.https://preview.redd.it/2xrvnn096n0d1.png?width=390&format=png&auto=webp&s=7af3dc481151330767ba3ccfb10134c580a16404 Bitcoin Rainbow Chart is a tool that aims to offer a specific solution to this issue, especially to users with long-term investment strategies. How does Bitcoin Rainbow Chart work?One of the advantages of BRC is that it allows you to read the price at a glance. The colored bands on the graph help a lot when defining trading zones. It is much more than a “logarithmic rainbow” superimposed on the price history.https://preview.redd.it/w9yt42ot7n0d1.png?width=366&format=png&auto=webp&s=70a6b06174b7172dbbfe0eddf43844e689bcf5ab It should be noted that this tool ignores the effect of some short-term variables, implementing an inverse exponential growth pattern. What's that? Well, just the opposite of a standard exponential line, where growth begins slowly with a horizontal behavior and accelerates until it reaches a steep slope. https://preview.redd.it/vmc42tnz7n0d1.png?width=360&format=png&auto=webp&s=d3431b5f9ef8f1c7e7c33557ad5c948e428edc4b Rainbow colorsThe tool is made up of nine colored bands emulating a rainbow. Each one is associated with a specific sentiment or a specific market condition:
Pros and Cons of Bitcoin Rainbow ChartBitcoin Rainbow Chart is a powerful resource that, like any other analysis tool, has its pros and cons.Pros:
BRC: Statistical modelLogarithmic regression is a statistical model used to evaluate the decline or growth of a process that slows down over time . Some variables that are usually represented with a logarithmic regression are the acidity of a solution or the intensity of a sound.This method is very useful to establish relationships in cases where it is not appropriate to perform a linear analysis. This is the case of Bitcoin (with massive initial growth), whose price and timing best fit a logarithmic representation. https://preview.redd.it/od5huj8j8n0d1.png?width=850&format=png&auto=webp&s=bbb2a5cc6da398b452788b2f5fea954de437ba30 Bitcoin Rainbow Chart Use CasesThe use cases for Bitcoin Rainbow Chart are varied. Among other things, it is used to:
Trading Bitcoin Rainbow ChartReading the graph is simple . Bitcoin Rainbow Chart is based on the price movement since 2014, whose line is framed in the rainbow. Right in the middle, the yellow band serves as a starting point.Towards the top, we enter hot zones (red and orange bands), which would indicate the formation of bubbles due to an overvaluation of the asset. Profit taking usually occurs after a prolonged price run into these areas. https://preview.redd.it/51rtvh9w8n0d1.png?width=850&format=png&auto=webp&s=982303c2f8070563a050655199fc2ec910dcedef Let's look at an example. On November 8, 2021, Bitcoin was in the light orange band. The price was close to $67,500. A couple of months later significant profit taking was observed. https://preview.redd.it/ty4huscz8n0d1.png?width=850&format=png&auto=webp&s=830bf7f1bb13b3cca41e2259ea37eba2f369f9f1 Below the central band, we find the cold zones (green and blue bands), linked to buying and accumulation sentiments. In this region of the rainbow, we will most likely be able to buy Bitcoin at a good price. For example, Bitcoin was in the blue zone during the 2020 crash, when the price plummeted to $5,000. The lower band is known as the fire sale zone, ideal for accumulation periods. https://preview.redd.it/roaoawg29n0d1.png?width=850&format=png&auto=webp&s=33614cd12525a24bea27dd67c1c93c765bc7b251 ¿Is Bitcoin Rainbow Chart a reliable indicator?Since its first version, the BRC has been quite accurate. To date, the price has behaved as expected based on the band it was in (both in bearish and bullish phases). Its reliability can be reinforced by complementing the reading with other indicators, as well as with specific models (for example, the S2F).https://preview.redd.it/ak2uzpza9n0d1.png?width=850&format=png&auto=webp&s=58001a47098ab14ad347144220fe71f1c51863e1 BRC: ConclusionBitcoin Rainbow Chart is a useful tool for long-term Bitcoin price analysis . Its precision is a point in favor of the model, which ignores the noise generated by short-term factors (for example, intraday volatility).By combining BRC readings with traditional indicators, much more accurate forecasts can be made. In fact, by itself, it is a tool that can be reduced to the definition of overbought and oversold zones. BONKbot Telegram User Guide: Sniping 1000x Memecoins Unibot User Guide Top 7 Telegram Bots Get a $100 bonus trading with Binance |
2024.05.15 17:31 Joshh170 Minecraft Is Giving Away Free Items for the Game's 15th Anniversary
Minecraft will be giving away free items to players during the latter half of May to mark the game's 15th anniversary. Mojang Studios' popular sandbox experience is set to receive a major update that will introduce a host of new content. submitted by Joshh170 to GameGeeks [link] [comments] Before fully launching in late 2011, Minecraft had long been publicly available to PC users, with the very first version of the game releasing on May 17, 2009. A campaign to mark the title's upcoming 15th anniversary has just been unveiled, and those who participate in the event will be given a number of special in-game rewards. As part of Minecraft's 15th anniversary celebration, players can log in every day between May 15 and May 29 to claim a free Character Creator item. The Character Creator is Minecraft's customization system that gives players the ability to modify their skins with free and paid-for cosmetic items. Each of the 15 rewards featured in the anniversary event will represent a different year in the history of Minecraft, which is one of the best-selling game franchises of all time. Mojang Studios revealed in October 2023 that Minecraft had already surpassed 300 million sales at the time. In comparison, the title's closest rival, Rockstar Games' critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto 5, had sold 195 million copies as of February. Minecraft's success can be attributed to several factors, such as its core promise of endless creative freedom, varied game modes, dedicated community, and regular updates. Minecraft 15th Anniversary Free Items Event Duration May 15 to May 29, 2024 The upcoming 1.21 update for Minecraft, Tricky Trials, is expected to arrive in mid-2024. Aside from implementing a long list of tweaks to things that are already in the game, this release will introduce several new blocks like the Crafter, a Redstone-powered tool that can be set up to automatically craft items. Tricky Trials will also add procedurally generated underground structures called Trial Chambers to Minecraft that will contain new Copper-related blocks and offer players new hostile areas to explore during the mid-game. This combat-focused update features two new Minecraft mob types, the Bogged and Breeze, as well. The Bogged is a moss and mushroom-covered Skeleton variant that shoots poisonous arrows and naturally spawns in either swamps or mangrove swamps. The cunning and hostile Breeze behaves like a wind-oriented version of Minecraft's Blaze mob that only appears in Trial Chambers. Breezes can deflect all forms of projectiles, which forces players to engage in close combat while avoiding the mob's explosive Wind Charge attack. |
2024.05.15 14:48 PunnyHeals Misrepresentation of house price data by Realtor.ca
TL;DR: submitted by PunnyHeals to newbrunswickcanada [link] [comments]
I have been looking to buy a house for the past several years in the Fredericton area and have been checking the online listings regularly through Realtor.ca since it is the most common real estate listing website used in New Brunswick. What I liked about Realtor.ca was its ability to provide the average sell price for a house every month with graphs that showed the average sell price for a house in Fredericton for the past 12 months and 10 years. Looking for a house for an several years, I felt that I had a good idea of the market conditions and price ranges. My anecdotal evidence was that the average house price was much higher than Realtor.ca’s estimate of 288,300. I wondered if my anecdotal evidence could be supported by data. The objective of this report is to collect list price data from all available listings within the Fredericton area. Once collected, I can take the average price and see if it matches the average price shown by Realtor.ca. **Average/Median Methodology** When you use Realtor.ca, you can filter results by the property type. There are six property type categories: Residential (single family home), condo/strata, vacant land, recreational, multi-family, and agriculture. For each of these property types, the asking price and address were copied into an Excel file. The data was collected on May 10, 2024, and included all listings within Fredericton; duplicate listings were removed. Once all data was collected, the average and median for each property type was calculated (Table 1). I compared my calculated average to the Realtor.ca average to determine if my anecdotal evidence of thinking the average house price was higher than what Realtor.ca said was justified. **Results** There were 107 listings for residential houses (referred simply as “house” in this report), 245 listings for vacant land, 5 listings for recreational, 7 listings for multi-family, 2 listings for agriculture, and 10 listings for condos (Figure 1). The average listing price was $543,878 for houses, $177,026 for land, $227,080 for recreation, $826,100 for multi-family, $829,450 for agriculture, and $317,410 for condos. The median listing price was $474,900 for houses, $64,900 for land, $229,900 for recreation, $799,000 for multi-family, $829,450 for agriculture, and $289,900 for condos (Table 1). **Realtor.ca MLS System Average House Price Claim** When you search for “houses for sale in Fredericton, NB”, you will see the top search results show Realtor.ca. This is not uncommon since Realtor.ca and its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) have the highest number of listings of any other online real estate listing service for the Fredericton, NB, area. Having most real estate listings concentrated on one system can provide users with a general idea of greater market conditions beyond individual listings, such as averages and trends for cities. Realtor.ca provides this data in the form of “Market Price (CAD)” price trends for the past 12 months, and price trends for the past 10 years (Figure 2). These figures are prominently displayed at the end of the first page of the Fredericton real estate listings (URL: https://www.realtor.ca/nb/fredericton/real-estate). This leads us to the first claim by the Realtor.ca MLS system claim and our initial objective of this report. Claim: The average market price in Fredericton sits at $288,300 as of May, 2024. Analysis: When a user views these figures, it is a safe assumption that when a price is displayed, the user is inclined to believe that “Market Price (CAD)” is the average house price in Fredericton. This is further reinforced if the user reads the description above the figures which states: “Use our home price trends to better gauge local market conditions and plan your next move. The graphs below show benchmark or average prices of homes sold in the area. Data generated by MLS® Systems and the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) — Canada’s most advanced tool to gauge local home price levels and trends.” This small paragraph specifically states, “The graphs below show benchmark or average prices of homes sold in the area.” Based off the graphs and their statement, we can safely interpret that Realtor.ca is explicitly saying that the average home price in Fredericton, NB, currently sits at $288,300; leaving no room for interpretation on how the data can be viewed. The reason I wanted to be explicitly clear on this thought process is that if you look back at the results section of this paper (Table 1) and see that the calculated average of all house listings was $543,878, it represents an 88.65% difference. A couple assumptions that could explain this difference are:
Since there is such a large discrepancy in my calculated average and the average from Realtor.ca, I expanded my analysis to other categories. I combined my residential house data set with the other five property types to see if it would alter our initial average and how close it would come to the calculated Realtor.ca average (Table 2). Realtor.ca claims the average house price in Fredericton was $288,300, which seems to be closest to my calculated average for the combination of house and land listings. With the addition of these combinations, it suggests that Realtor.ca calculates average housing price using houses and land listings. Realtor.ca MLS’s claim of the average house price in Fredericton, NB being $288,300 is a misrepresentation of the true market value and conditions. If a company were to calculate averages of an entire real estate market within an area, why would they only include house and land and not the other 4 categories? **Misleading Representations by Realtor.ca** The conclusions made from my analysis were made with plenty of explanations and assumptions. Given that the MLS system is a pay gated system, and their patented house price index algorithms are private, I feel it is reasonable to assume that my data is closer to true market prices. This leads us to the next question, if my data isn’t correct, why are the figures, calculations, and methodology misleading users on market conditions? The average user is not going to spend a significant amount of time manually collecting data and putting it into Excel to double check Realtor.ca. The company is the largest multiple listing system used in New Brunswick and holding that status comes with some form of implicit trust that the public holds for information it publishes. In this section, I will lay out sections and guidelines from the Competition Act and why I believe that Realtor.ca is violating the Act. **Competition Act** For the below, I will be using the most updated version of the Competition Act R.S.C., 1985, c. C-34, last amended on December 15, 2023 (https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-34/page-1.html) and the “Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet” published by Competition Bureau Canada (https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection\_2010/ic/Iu54-1-2009-eng.pdf) *Section 2.2, Paragraph 4 of the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet* “Businesses should not assume that consumers read an entire Web site, just as they do not read every word on a printed page. Accordingly, information required to be communicated to consumers to ensure that a representation does not create a false or misleading impression should be presented in such a fashion as to make it noticeable and likely to be read.” Explanation: Section 2.2 applies to the average house price and accompanying figures (Figure 2). Realtor.ca shows the average house price in text and graph form but does not disclose that these are house and land price average if my calculations are accurate. *Section 4.1, Paragraph 1 of the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet* “If qualifying information is necessary to prevent a representation from being false or misleading when read on its own, businesses should present that information clearly and conspicuously. Businesses frequently use disclaimers, often signalled by an asterisk, to qualify the general impression of their principal representation when promoting their products or services. As mentioned earlier, the general impression conveyed by the representation, as well as its literal meaning, are taken into account in determining whether a representation is false or misleading.” Explanation: Section 4.1 applies to Realtor.ca house price indices and other methodologies. A disclaimer in this case would be located within the same small paragraph above the figures. Instead, they use their own house price index to obfuscate their methodologies (Figure 2). Another option they give is below the graphs as “Ask a realtor for more detailed information” which creates an additional barrier to the users right under the Competition Act. Specifically, the “to qualify the general impression of their principal representation when promoting their products or services.” The “ask a realtor” hyperlink brings you to an additional page where you can find their realtors in your area. This is incentivizing the user to use their services over others to access more information. Realtor.ca has a majority market share in New Brunswick which further reinforces their monopolistic practices over real estate that hurts consumers. *Section 4.1.3, Paragraph 1 of the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet* “Businesses may effectively draw attention to a disclaimer so that it is more likely to be read by using attention-grabbing tools to display the disclaimer. In doing so, businesses must be careful not to design attention-grabbing tools in other parts of the advertisement in such a way that they distract the consumer’s attention away from the disclaimer, making it unlikely that the consumer will notice the disclaimer or recognize its importance.” Explanation: Section 4.1.3 is further evidence of obfuscation and misrepresentation of their graphical aids and calculations. Similar to section 2.2 in the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet, Realtor.ca placed those figures at the bottom of the first page of listings to draw the user’s attention to their interpretation of data. *Section 52 (1) of the Competition Act: False or misleading representations* “No person shall, for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, the supply or use of a product or for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, any business interest, by any means whatever, knowingly or recklessly make a representation to the public that is false or misleading in a material respect.” Explanation: Section 52 (1) is the main argument for this report. I believe that Realtor.ca knowingly or recklessly misrepresented the average house price in Fredericton using deceptive graphical aids and created a home price index to further obfuscate the methodology. I am not a lawyer, so I could be misinterpreting the sections of the Competition Act. I believe Realtor.ca has reached the threshold of violating the Competition Act since Section 52.1.1 states: “For greater certainty, in establishing that subsection (1) was contravened, it is not necessary to prove that (a) any person was deceived or misled; (b) any member of the public to whom the representation was made was within Canada; or (c) the representation was made in a place to which the public had access.” This amendment to the Competition Act removed the threshold of proving that an individual or the public were deceived or misled. I believe that Realtor.ca has violated all three elements of section 52.1.1 ensuring that they have met the threshold of violating section 52.1 of the Competition Act. **Conclusion** I have given numerous caveats to my analysis, so it is possible I have come to the wrong conclusions given the lack of transparency in methodology and limited time frame. One thing I can conclude with certainty, is that Realtor.ca is misrepresenting market conditions through their figures displaying average house prices, pay gates to information, and methodology disclosures guised as a patented as a housing price index. I believe that Realtor.ca should make it clear to the user how their housing price index is calculated. Realtor.ca and the MLS system has succeeded in market capture and fights to keep this information pay gated to only people that benefit from these misleading claims. Regardless of their reasons, these monopolistic practices only benefit anyone under their system through the restriction of information to shape the way the public perceives the market conditions, a clear violation of the Competition Act and a disservice to the public. There was a lot more I wanted to cover like if Statistics Canada (u/StatCanada) sourced their data from the MLS system and the broader implications of sourcing data that could be misrepresentation. Again, I could be wrong and would welcome any additional relevant information. https://preview.redd.it/awfmkl0x6l0d1.png?width=1681&format=png&auto=webp&s=c9c4be8b6139c4f079ff343637b159b85e79cd3b https://preview.redd.it/za540m0x6l0d1.png?width=3816&format=png&auto=webp&s=8c16fdcbc34795f46b38bdf502e1576fb43887dd https://preview.redd.it/h5lz8p0x6l0d1.png?width=4166&format=png&auto=webp&s=3a76bdd71e64435fbaa38a768469d287b508946a https://preview.redd.it/5qz74m0x6l0d1.png?width=3262&format=png&auto=webp&s=ab9363605bd6b31f324b5bb58f1fcc847f17a67b |
2024.05.15 14:47 PunnyHeals Misrepresentation of house price data by Realtor.ca
TL;DR: submitted by PunnyHeals to fredericton [link] [comments]
I have been looking to buy a house for the past several years in the Fredericton area and have been checking the online listings regularly through Realtor.ca since it is the most common real estate listing website used in New Brunswick. What I liked about Realtor.ca was its ability to provide the average sell price for a house every month with graphs that showed the average sell price for a house in Fredericton for the past 12 months and 10 years. Looking for a house for an several years, I felt that I had a good idea of the market conditions and price ranges. My anecdotal evidence was that the average house price was much higher than Realtor.ca’s estimate of 288,300. I wondered if my anecdotal evidence could be supported by data. The objective of this report is to collect list price data from all available listings within the Fredericton area. Once collected, I can take the average price and see if it matches the average price shown by Realtor.ca. **Average/Median Methodology** When you use Realtor.ca, you can filter results by the property type. There are six property type categories: Residential (single family home), condo/strata, vacant land, recreational, multi-family, and agriculture. For each of these property types, the asking price and address were copied into an Excel file. The data was collected on May 10, 2024, and included all listings within Fredericton; duplicate listings were removed. Once all data was collected, the average and median for each property type was calculated (Table 1). I compared my calculated average to the Realtor.ca average to determine if my anecdotal evidence of thinking the average house price was higher than what Realtor.ca said was justified. **Results** There were 107 listings for residential houses (referred simply as “house” in this report), 245 listings for vacant land, 5 listings for recreational, 7 listings for multi-family, 2 listings for agriculture, and 10 listings for condos (Figure 1). The average listing price was $543,878 for houses, $177,026 for land, $227,080 for recreation, $826,100 for multi-family, $829,450 for agriculture, and $317,410 for condos. The median listing price was $474,900 for houses, $64,900 for land, $229,900 for recreation, $799,000 for multi-family, $829,450 for agriculture, and $289,900 for condos (Table 1). **Realtor.ca MLS System Average House Price Claim** When you search for “houses for sale in Fredericton, NB”, you will see the top search results show Realtor.ca. This is not uncommon since Realtor.ca and its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) have the highest number of listings of any other online real estate listing service for the Fredericton, NB, area. Having most real estate listings concentrated on one system can provide users with a general idea of greater market conditions beyond individual listings, such as averages and trends for cities. Realtor.ca provides this data in the form of “Market Price (CAD)” price trends for the past 12 months, and price trends for the past 10 years (Figure 2). These figures are prominently displayed at the end of the first page of the Fredericton real estate listings (URL: https://www.realtor.ca/nb/fredericton/real-estate). This leads us to the first claim by the Realtor.ca MLS system claim and our initial objective of this report. Claim: The average market price in Fredericton sits at $288,300 as of May, 2024. Analysis: When a user views these figures, it is a safe assumption that when a price is displayed, the user is inclined to believe that “Market Price (CAD)” is the average house price in Fredericton. This is further reinforced if the user reads the description above the figures which states: “Use our home price trends to better gauge local market conditions and plan your next move. The graphs below show benchmark or average prices of homes sold in the area. Data generated by MLS® Systems and the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) — Canada’s most advanced tool to gauge local home price levels and trends.” This small paragraph specifically states, “The graphs below show benchmark or average prices of homes sold in the area.” Based off the graphs and their statement, we can safely interpret that Realtor.ca is explicitly saying that the average home price in Fredericton, NB, currently sits at $288,300; leaving no room for interpretation on how the data can be viewed. The reason I wanted to be explicitly clear on this thought process is that if you look back at the results section of this paper (Table 1) and see that the calculated average of all house listings was $543,878, it represents an 88.65% difference. A couple assumptions that could explain this difference are:
Since there is such a large discrepancy in my calculated average and the average from Realtor.ca, I expanded my analysis to other categories. I combined my residential house data set with the other five property types to see if it would alter our initial average and how close it would come to the calculated Realtor.ca average (Table 2). Realtor.ca claims the average house price in Fredericton was $288,300, which seems to be closest to my calculated average for the combination of house and land listings. With the addition of these combinations, it suggests that Realtor.ca calculates average housing price using houses and land listings. Realtor.ca MLS’s claim of the average house price in Fredericton, NB being $288,300 is a misrepresentation of the true market value and conditions. If a company were to calculate averages of an entire real estate market within an area, why would they only include house and land and not the other 4 categories? **Misleading Representations by Realtor.ca** The conclusions made from my analysis were made with plenty of explanations and assumptions. Given that the MLS system is a pay gated system, and their patented house price index algorithms are private, I feel it is reasonable to assume that my data is closer to true market prices. This leads us to the next question, if my data isn’t correct, why are the figures, calculations, and methodology misleading users on market conditions? The average user is not going to spend a significant amount of time manually collecting data and putting it into Excel to double check Realtor.ca. The company is the largest multiple listing system used in New Brunswick and holding that status comes with some form of implicit trust that the public holds for information it publishes. In this section, I will lay out sections and guidelines from the Competition Act and why I believe that Realtor.ca is violating the Act. **Competition Act** For the below, I will be using the most updated version of the Competition Act R.S.C., 1985, c. C-34, last amended on December 15, 2023 (https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-34/page-1.html) and the “Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet” published by Competition Bureau Canada (https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection\_2010/ic/Iu54-1-2009-eng.pdf) *Section 2.2, Paragraph 4 of the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet* “Businesses should not assume that consumers read an entire Web site, just as they do not read every word on a printed page. Accordingly, information required to be communicated to consumers to ensure that a representation does not create a false or misleading impression should be presented in such a fashion as to make it noticeable and likely to be read.” Explanation: Section 2.2 applies to the average house price and accompanying figures (Figure 2). Realtor.ca shows the average house price in text and graph form but does not disclose that these are house and land price average if my calculations are accurate. *Section 4.1, Paragraph 1 of the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet* “If qualifying information is necessary to prevent a representation from being false or misleading when read on its own, businesses should present that information clearly and conspicuously. Businesses frequently use disclaimers, often signalled by an asterisk, to qualify the general impression of their principal representation when promoting their products or services. As mentioned earlier, the general impression conveyed by the representation, as well as its literal meaning, are taken into account in determining whether a representation is false or misleading.” Explanation: Section 4.1 applies to Realtor.ca house price indices and other methodologies. A disclaimer in this case would be located within the same small paragraph above the figures. Instead, they use their own house price index to obfuscate their methodologies (Figure 2). Another option they give is below the graphs as “Ask a realtor for more detailed information” which creates an additional barrier to the users right under the Competition Act. Specifically, the “to qualify the general impression of their principal representation when promoting their products or services.” The “ask a realtor” hyperlink brings you to an additional page where you can find their realtors in your area. This is incentivizing the user to use their services over others to access more information. Realtor.ca has a majority market share in New Brunswick which further reinforces their monopolistic practices over real estate that hurts consumers. *Section 4.1.3, Paragraph 1 of the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet* “Businesses may effectively draw attention to a disclaimer so that it is more likely to be read by using attention-grabbing tools to display the disclaimer. In doing so, businesses must be careful not to design attention-grabbing tools in other parts of the advertisement in such a way that they distract the consumer’s attention away from the disclaimer, making it unlikely that the consumer will notice the disclaimer or recognize its importance.” Explanation: Section 4.1.3 is further evidence of obfuscation and misrepresentation of their graphical aids and calculations. Similar to section 2.2 in the Application of the Competition Act to Representations on the Internet, Realtor.ca placed those figures at the bottom of the first page of listings to draw the user’s attention to their interpretation of data. *Section 52 (1) of the Competition Act: False or misleading representations* “No person shall, for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, the supply or use of a product or for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, any business interest, by any means whatever, knowingly or recklessly make a representation to the public that is false or misleading in a material respect.” Explanation: Section 52 (1) is the main argument for this report. I believe that Realtor.ca knowingly or recklessly misrepresented the average house price in Fredericton using deceptive graphical aids and created a home price index to further obfuscate the methodology. I am not a lawyer, so I could be misinterpreting the sections of the Competition Act. I believe Realtor.ca has reached the threshold of violating the Competition Act since Section 52.1.1 states: “For greater certainty, in establishing that subsection (1) was contravened, it is not necessary to prove that (a) any person was deceived or misled; (b) any member of the public to whom the representation was made was within Canada; or (c) the representation was made in a place to which the public had access.” This amendment to the Competition Act removed the threshold of proving that an individual or the public were deceived or misled. I believe that Realtor.ca has violated all three elements of section 52.1.1 ensuring that they have met the threshold of violating section 52.1 of the Competition Act. **Conclusion** I have given numerous caveats to my analysis, so it is possible I have come to the wrong conclusions given the lack of transparency in methodology and limited time frame. One thing I can conclude with certainty, is that Realtor.ca is misrepresenting market conditions through their figures displaying average house prices, pay gates to information, and methodology disclosures guised as a patented as a housing price index. I believe that Realtor.ca should make it clear to the user how their housing price index is calculated. Realtor.ca and the MLS system has succeeded in market capture and fights to keep this information pay gated to only people that benefit from these misleading claims. Regardless of their reasons, these monopolistic practices only benefit anyone under their system through the restriction of information to shape the way the public perceives the market conditions, a clear violation of the Competition Act and a disservice to the public. There was a lot more I wanted to cover like if Statistics Canada (u/StatCanada) sourced their data from the MLS system and the broader implications of sourcing data that could be misrepresentation. Again, I could be wrong and would welcome any additional relevant information. https://preview.redd.it/rnsd41ym6l0d1.png?width=1681&format=png&auto=webp&s=51589de251bac87748c5ee7e9f0c24a2408fc4a0 https://preview.redd.it/apw3q2ym6l0d1.png?width=3816&format=png&auto=webp&s=3d0ce2c2c103032e343793ae147411338d107375 https://preview.redd.it/bi9hg2ym6l0d1.png?width=4166&format=png&auto=webp&s=911c5cfd60b58f658e0048552760efc2ec785561 https://preview.redd.it/ki25gaym6l0d1.png?width=3262&format=png&auto=webp&s=3dd741f4fead9c6782e24c8193062135238209d5 |
2024.05.15 13:25 NaturalCharity4345 DLF Chisholm Apartments Sector 24
2024.05.15 03:41 ddgr815 Detroit killed the sedan. We may all live to regret it
2024.05.14 23:25 psychopathologist Rare Hoodie from 2009 for sale - Size Medium
2024.05.14 23:00 toyodaforever Ford got rid of the Ranger "due to demand". But..if you look at sales for the F150, they also fell between 2005-2009. SOOO many people I talk to still want a small pickup truck. The sales for the F150 almost halved between 2005 and 2009, but Ford didn't kill it off "due to demand".
submitted by toyodaforever to fordranger [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 14:48 djosephm [WTS] Silver Silver Silver! ASE Rolls
2024.05.14 13:01 FelicitySmoak_ On This Day in Michael Jackson HIStory - May 14th
1975 - Michael had a private meeting with Berry Gordy to discuss the Jackson Five's future & after being denied creative freedom once again, the brothers started shopping for a new record deal. The Jackson Five had begun to ask to produce, write and record their own material in the previous year but all their requests for creative control had been denied. submitted by FelicitySmoak_ to WhereWasMJToday [link] [comments] 1985 - Michael met Ronald & Nancy Reagan at White House for the launch of a campaign against driving under the influence of alcohol. In the spring of 1984, Michael's team received a call from the Secretary of Transportation, Elizabeth Dole, asking for Michael to give "BEAT IT" as background music for a television commercial and a 35 second radio spot on the dangers of driving a car under the influence of alcohol. Even though the initiative was initially rejected by Michael, once he meditated a bit, he explained to his representative, John Branca "You know what? If I can get some kind of prize from the White House then I will give them the song. How about?".Branca was given the task of obtaining a positive response in the shortest time possible, which was not entirely difficult due to the fascination of the Reagans with show business. And so, the meeting was scheduled for the morning of 5/14/84 For such an important occasion, President Reagan dressed in a navy blue suit, a gray and navy blue striped tie & a white shirt. Nancy,on the other hand, chose a white suit, Adolfo brand, adorned with buttons and gold stripes. Nothing too spectacular to overshadow Michael's attire: an electric blue sequined jacket, adorned with sequined laces, a band of golden sequins, and epaulettes with golden sequins. He also wore his famous white sequined glove. https://preview.redd.it/nn68194tj80d1.jpg?width=406&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=710f061825c711906a69bd169dbeb02f8c8c0b51 Two thousand people in total, including officials, admirers and security met in the central garden to see Michael. Once everyone was up on stage, the Republican president pointed out that: "Michael Jackson is proof of what a person can accomplish through a lifestyle free of alcohol or drug abuse. People young and old can respect that. And if Americans follow his example, then we can face up to the problem of drinking and driving, and we can, in Michael's words, beat it."- a brief speech of just 5 and a half minutes. Then he handed a plaque to Michael, a gesture that he thanked before the microphone with an even more brief intervention, saying a mere 13 words: "I'm very, very honored. Thank you very much, Mr. President and Mrs. Reagan."https://reddit.com/link/1crpctu/video/r07t0142k80d1/player https://preview.redd.it/educ10awj80d1.jpg?width=612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60f980e7749f52943df3a56972887cbe3731dbdf During his tour of the halls of the presidential residence, he showed his fascination with a portrait of Andrew Jackson, dressed in a military suit very similar to the blue sequins he wore that day. Until Michael's visit, only Elvis Presley, received this distinction, in 1970, when President Richard Nixon opened the doors of the Oval Office. Michael would return to the White House twice more during the terms of George W. Bush, Sr & Bill Clinton https://reddit.com/link/1crpctu/video/o2x9r4cyj80d1/player 1985 - Michael Jackson received a royalty check from Epic Records for $53 Million for sales from his Thriller album. 1988- Michael is on the cover of Fresh! magazine https://preview.redd.it/eii45a57k80d1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=771d58c37d792dbc52221fc861f8f58e34cc8100 1996- Michael visits Chateau de Pierrefonds in Northern France, rumors were he wanted to purchase a French chateau. The Château de Pierrefonds, classified as a historic monument and managed by the Center des monuments nationaux, was not for sale. Michael was aware of this so his visit was simply a pleasure visit. https://preview.redd.it/j8gz337bk80d1.jpg?width=281&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5163fff4c29fb985acf401c2933c7dde4af8a672 https://preview.redd.it/54lp837bk80d1.jpg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=97e7a8931a213c4bc1247332b95d9bb3fcd5a3b6 The guides at the Château de Pierrefonds keep the memory of this arrival, completely unexpected, on 5/14/96. They speak with pleasure of this moment when the King of Pop arrived, surrounded by his bodyguards, to discover this castle worthy of fairy tales. According to one of the guides, he arrived in a limousine which he parked in front of the village pharmacy. Michael, in fact, came in a station wagon type car which parked as close as possible to the entrance to the castle. Wearing a red jacket and his mask, Michael arrived late in the morning when there were not too many people. However, it was school field trip time and a group of children were present. One of the guides explains that he then hid in a corner, near the stairs where the visit to the castle begins, so as not to be seen and disturbed Michael paused for a long time in front of the model of the castle, located at the end of the guard room. Made in 1878 for the Universal Exhibition, this stone model built at 1/50 scale remains impressive (height: 145cm, width: 250 cm, length: 350 cm). Michael's bodyguards reportedly took a lot of photos and it is said that Michael asked for the plans of the model. What is certain is that Michael had a model of the castle made for his Neverland ranch. It measured 269cm x 335cm x365 cm. A little larger than the model present at the castle. Michael's model sat in the middle of his living room, with, for a time, a framed photo of the castle on the wall. https://preview.redd.it/xo80inzdk80d1.jpg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3aed3bef7fb02ecd40e0d243da43dbdc7e0c4ac0 The model was one of the objects that Julien's Auctions wanted to sell at auction in 2009, before Michael prevented this sale. https://preview.redd.it/1gyyvzlfk80d1.jpg?width=465&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a9058ccf99ded3d7f6c290163dfb33578fb68bd Although shy and discreet, Michael did not hesitate to pose for photos with the employees, who were quickly aware of his presence Michael also leaves a strong memory of his visit with employees through his visit to the site's souvenir shop. He spent a large sum on history books, an amount which, according to the guide, “is not seen every day here” . 2004 - The Defense team, headed up by Thomas Mesereau, have decided to agree with the DA's Office of Santa Barbara to uphold the gag order in the case against Michael. Mesereau wrote that he and his client support the gag order and withdrew any objections to it made by Jackson's prior counsel. In court documents filed , Attorney Theodore Boutrous, who represents the news organizations, criticized Santa Barbara County DA Thomas Sneddon's condemnation of the intense media coverage. "Eliminating the gag order will ensure that more accurate information will be disseminated, and will reduce the amount of rumors, speculation and gossip about which the District Attorney complains," Boutrous wrote.The news organizations have been annoyed by Sneddon's clampdown on information about the case. They have asked the California Supreme Court to overturn the gag order on the grounds that it violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Thomas Sneddon and Gerald Franklin, filed a motion earlier in the week, to the California Supreme Court to uphold the gag order in this case. He argued that the media was hoping to profit by pandering to a "gossip-hungry readership." He proceeded to write in his letter, "Despite the perhaps inevitable leaks, the public knows little more about the facts of this case than that Michael Jackson has been indicted on serious charges and that a jury will be asked to consider the evidence that may be presented to determine his guilt or innocence based on that evidence. And that's the way it should be." Mr. Sneddon's letter was a response to the media's attorneys that wanted the gag order lifted which was imposed by the sitting judge in the case, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville. The gag order prohibits participants involved in the case to discuss any particulars about the case to the media. Sneddon argued in his letter that the news organizations have no standing to challenge the gag order because it applies only to case participants, not the media. He also said that such an order is required in a case that has drawn sensational worldwide attention. "What is reported as fact becomes the nucleus of intense speculation, conjecture and discussion among commentators, particularly in the tabloid media and the audience they appeal to," Sneddon wrote. "Gossip -- and the 'news' tidbits that are gossip's grist -- translate into income."2009 - In the last Family gathering Michael, Prince, Paris & Blanket attend Katherine & Joe's 60th wedding anniversary at the Indian Restaurant, Chakra in Beverly Hills with the whole family including all the grandchildren. Randy is the only one not in attendance. This is when most of Jackson siblings saw Michael for the first time since the 2005 Trial.This is also the last time Michael will see most of his family, including Janet & LaToya https://preview.redd.it/yyw70rljk80d1.jpg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13c64c13471bde6c759ef250917f23766cccb0c2 https://preview.redd.it/3me9vj0mk80d1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4b1e035ea10d1a0a7b2872c14ef2cf6f86b586f https://preview.redd.it/2tri5abqk80d1.jpg?width=735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4849e4072e91965e16498a8b6bd32356c1e1a25d 2009 - AEG sent a 2nd email to Conrad Murray https://preview.redd.it/5ulbvu3xk80d1.jpg?width=516&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9db53b68d8f441482e6350635a576acaeecac0f2 2012 - Katherine Jackson & Brett Livingstone Strong give an interview on Piers Morgan Tonight. They show some of Michael's artwork Brett Livingstone Strong is the artist responsible for "The Book", the only portrait that Michael ever posed for https://preview.redd.it/gglbctazk80d1.jpg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e83dfc6cf3f6d505bb31a59f7c494cd269f62e2 2013- Day 11 of the Jackson vs Aeg Live trial |
2024.05.14 04:16 esProc_SPL Put Records with Specific Values at the Beginning During the Sort
EID | NAME | SURNAME | GENDER | STATE | BIRTHDAY | HIREDATE | DEPT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rebecca | Moore | F | California | 1974-11-20 | 2005-03-11 | R&D |
2 | Ashley | Wilson | F | New York | 1980-07-19 | 2008-03-16 | Finance |
3 | Rachel | Johnson | F | New Mexico | 1970-12-17 | 2010-12-01 | Sales |
4 | Emily | Smith | F | Texas | 1985-03-07 | 2006-08-15 | HR |
5 | Ashley | Smith | F | Texas | 1975-05-13 | 2004-07-30 | R&D |
6 | Matthew | Johnson | M | California | 1984-07-07 | 2005-07-07 | Sales |
7 | Alexis | Smith | F | Illinois | 1972-08-16 | 2002-08-16 | Sales |
8 | Megan | Wilson | F | California | 1979-04-19 | 1984-04-19 | Marketing |
9 | Victoria | Davis | F | Texas | 1983-12-07 | 2009-12-07 | HR |
10 | Ryan | Johnson | M | Pennsylvania | 1976-03-12 | 2006-03-12 | R&D |
EID | NAME | SURNAME | GENDER | STATE | BIRTHDAY | HIREDATE | DEPT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Victoria | Davis | F | Texas | 1983-12-07 | 2009-12-07 | HR |
7 | Alexis | Smith | F | Illinois | 1972-08-16 | 2002-08-16 | Sales |
5 | Ashley | Smith | F | Texas | 1975-05-13 | 2004-07-30 | R&D |
3 | Rachel | Johnson | F | New Mexico | 1970-12-17 | 2010-12-01 | Sales |
1 | Rebecca | Moore | F | California | 1974-11-20 | 2005-03-11 | R&D |
2 | Ashley | Wilson | F | New York | 1980-07-19 | 2008-03-16 | Finance |
4 | Emily | Smith | F | Texas | 1985-03-07 | 2006-08-15 | HR |
6 | Matthew | Johnson | M | California | 1984-07-07 | 2005-07-07 | Sales |
8 | Megan | Wilson | F | California | 1979-04-19 | 1984-04-19 | Marketing |
10 | Ryan | Johnson | M | Pennsylvania | 1976-03-12 | 2006-03-12 | R&D |
A | |
---|---|
1 | =connect("demo") |
2 | =A1.query@x("SELECT * FROM EMPLOYEE").sort(EID).align@as(eid.split@pc(),EID) |
2024.05.14 03:43 NibVulture [WTS] Pilots 823(A)
2024.05.14 00:48 Ombersnip [WTS] Various rounds of silver for under spot, 1 oz A-Mark, Norfed , other silver rounds and a 2 oz Egyptian Gods Horus Round
2024.05.13 20:44 Legitimate-Shape3203 Are there any cars that I can buy for under 10K USD that are as fun to drive as an RX-8
2024.05.13 18:57 PoppaSquot The standard characteristics of all Japan's New Religions - including Soka Gakkai - see how many you recognize
The contemporary religious scene in Japan is commonly divided into the "established religions" (kisei shūkyō) and the "new religions" (shinshūkō). These categories are further divided into Buddhist- and Shintō-derived varieties of each as well as into further subcategories.The titular "Kurozumikyō" is a Shintō new religion founded in 1814 by the Shintō priest Kurozumi Munetada. As of this publication, it had a total membership of 220,000.
Founded by a priest of the "established" Shintō tradition, it is one of the oldest of the so-called new religions and seems to combine aspects of both new and established types. (p. 3)A source I read recently noted that the Soka Gakkai grew from poaching members of other new religions; it seems this demographic was the most fluid and changeable of Japan's religious demographic. However, at just 30% of the population, even if the Soka Gakkai had managed to claim 100% of these new religions' memberships, it would still have fallen short of Ikeda's self-defined minimum requirement of 1/3 of the population.
THE NEW RELIGIONS OF JAPAN
The new religions and their members represent an important and distinctive sector of Japanese society. In spite of the great variety of their doctrines, new religions share a unity of aspiration and world view significantly different from those of secular society and from the so-called established religions. New religions constitute the most vital sector of Japanese religion today and include perhaps 30 percent of the nation's population in their membership. (p. 3)
Among the doctrines of the new religions there is great variety, since doctrine frequently originates in revelations to a founder. (p. 5)Here is the Soka Gakkai's version:
Founders tend to be charismatic individuals who attract a following through faith healing rather than through ordination and textual erudition.The Soka Gakkai version:
The new religions tend to recruit their following through evangelistic proselytization and dramatic conversion, at least in the first generation. They promise followers "this-worldly-benefits" in the form of healing, solution of family problems, and material prosperity. In ethics they emphasize family solidarity and qualities of sincerity, frugality, harmony, diligence, and filial piety. Between laity and leaders there is only a vague dividing line, and for the most part, anyone may acquire leadership credentials, including women. Frequently the new religions recognize no sacred centers but those of their own history. (pp. 5-6)While the Soka Gakkai initially embraced pilgrimages ("tozan") to the Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taiseki-ji, their regular activities were centered on Soka Gakkai buildings ("kaikan", or "centers") rather than on Nichiren Shoshu temples. In fact, this was an early source of conflict, as the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood justifiably questioned WHY the Soka Gakkai was putting so much more effort and resources into building NEW Soka Gakkai centers than on building Nichiren Shoshu temples, which would have been the proper function of any religion's legitimate lay organization. Add to that the bad optics of Ikeda's cult's attempted steeplejacking of established Nichiren Shoshu temples, and there was DEFINITELY something rotten in Denmark, so to speak. The Soka Gakkai's focus was trained on IKEDA rather than on the priests of the order they supposedly belonged to as a lay organization. That's some fucked up priorities and it was only a matter of time before that became an open, obvious problem. Of course Ikeda hoped to delay that reckoning until he was in a position to seize the entire Nichiren Shoshu religion for himself. Too bad, so sad, the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood headed him off at the pass and spoiled all his beautiful plots.
The world view of the Japanese new religions conceives of the individual, society, nature, and the universe as an integrated system vitalized by a single principle. Every level represents the manifestation of that principle on a larger scale. The relationships among the levels, however, are not static. They must be maintained in balance, harmony, and congruence. These qualities are manifested in conditions of happiness, health, social stability, abundant harvests, and regular succession of the seasons (free of such calamities as flood, drought, and major earthquakes). The opposite conditions (unhappiness, illness, social unrest, scarcity of food, and natural disasters) are symptomatic of a lack of harmony or congruence. Everything is interconnected so that a change in one dimension, no matter how small, eventually ripples out and affects other dimensions in a larger context. Religious practice is a striving for continuous integration of self with the body, society, nature, and the universe. This involves careful management of the most basic components: the self, the faculties of mind and emotion, and the personality. (pp. 11-12)This thinking was the basis for Nichiren's Rissho Ankoku Ron, or "On Establishing the etc. & whatever".
Although the new religions inevitably adopt the system I have just described, they state it in different idioms. They may use Buddhist, Shintō, or colloquial terms for the self, calling it variously the kokoro (heart-mind or heart), konjō (guts), *reikon (spirit), tamashii (soul), and other terms. Similarly, they may name the principle vitalizing all existence by Shintō, Buddhist, or other terms: kami-nature, Buddha-nature, karma, ki, yōki, and so forth. They may predicate the existence of a variety of supernaturals who exist on a different plane than human beings, intervening in human affairs from time to time. These may be kami, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or ancestors. Alien to the system is the notion of a single deity standing outside the whole and manipulating it by means of an unknowable will. The supernaturals of the integrated system are subject to its rhythms and generally conform to its principles. The system is compatible with a variety of cosmological ideas and world pictures, including horizontal and vertical cosmologies seen in Japanese myths and in Buddhism's many-tiered realms of existence. (pp. 12-14)Because "Earthly desires ARE enlightenment", right?? And all that other Buddhism stuff, well, that's all obsolete now, "as useless as last year's calendar", right??
Because self-cultivation is the primary task of all, textual erudition, esoteric ritual, and the observance of abstinences are rejected or relegated to secondary significance.
The notion of kokoro is a hallmark of Japanese culture, and it is the central pillar of the world view of the new religions. Consider the following proverb, one that could be endorsed by the new religions and is a stock saying in secular society: "Both suffering and happiness depend on how we bear the kokoro." Kokoro is borne or carried in a certain way, good or bad, and according to that we suffer or are happy. We are in control. An ordinary, nonreligious interpretation of this proverb would say that our attitude toward circumstances determines in large part whether we are happy or unhappy, or that an attitude of "positive thinking" can improve our experience of unfavorable situations even if the circumstances are not thereby altered. (p. 19)You can see Ikeda alluding to this here:
And remember - NO COMPLAINING!!Even a man who has great wealth, social recognition and many awards may still be shadowed by indescribable suffering deep in his heart. On the other hand, an elderly woman who is not fortunate financially, leading a simple life alone, may feel the sun of joy and happiness rising in her heart each day.An interpretation of the proverb among the new religions is likely to be much stronger, to hold that human beings certainly have the power to be happy, depending solely on the manner in which one bears kokoro. We need only exercise that power by self-cultivation.
Moreover, the idea that circumstances can be changed by the power of diligently cultivated kokoro is pervasive. It is a question not only of a change of attitude but sometimes of radical material change, such as an improvement in economic situation or a miraculous healing. It is understood that the cultivated kokoro has the power also to change external persons and events, and that nothing is impossible. Exercising the full power fo the kokoro is possible for anyone who practices self-cultivation through the spiritual disciplines of the particular religious group. (pp. 19-20)Isn't that the whole basis for the idea of "human revolution"? How else could anyone understand "You can chant for whatever you want!"? Don't the Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI culties love to talk about "making the impossible possible"?? Hmm..I wonder why they never do...🤨
We chant to make the impossible possible, we want extraordinary, not ordinary. Let's get those benefits flowing, let's appreciate those challenges that allow us to grow and win and share those victories with others so that they can be inspired and win. SourceWhile the terminology of the self is basic to understanding Japanese constructions of self, the patterns of action and affect in which these are embedded constitute the functioning of the world view of the new religions. Here I identify four such patterns:
Each of these patterns represents an indispensable element of Japanese culture, and thus their implementation in Japanese religions is not unique. (p. 21)Nope. The Soka Gakkai is just bog standard for a Japanese New Religion. Nothing unique or special. Just like all the rest.
The idea that other people are mirrors makes the individual totally responsible in all circumstances. Although the burden is heavy, there is also a tacit message that the self can control any situation. Placing blame and responsibility on the individual also denies the idea that "society" can be blamed for one's problems; hence concepts of exploitation and discrimination are ruled out of consideration. On the whole the new religions are uninterested in political action to improve society; to them it is a question of individuals improving themselves individually and collectively through self-cultivation. (p. 23)Remember, this author ISN'T talking about Soka Gakkai here! This a feature of ALL Japan's new religions!
Since self-cultivation is the primary determiner of all human affairs, notions of fate or divine wrath (karma or bachi, for example) are reinterpreted, ignored, or denied.Or introduced when necessary to blame a member when the promises of SGI leaders are proven empty and false. It's always the MEMBERSHIP's fault somehow, never that the teachings are wrong or deceptive.
In like manner, because of the primacy of self-cultivation, the concept of pollution cannot be fully credited, and this opens the door to greater participation by women than is the case in the established religions.In the case of the Soka Gakkai, "greater participation by women" has been implemented as "greater exploitation of women". The women of the Soka Gakkai were expected to deliver daily newspapers for no pay throughout the Soka Gakkai's history; it is only recently that their numbers have declined so catastrophically and they have aged so much that the Soka Gakkai finally had to contract with a delivery service - which of course Soka Gakkai has to PAY now. Newspapers are SO much more profitable when you can find some suckers to deliver them at no cost to YOU!
Thus the new religions stress unquestioning performance of their established disciplines, fully aware that the demand for uncomprehending obedience (at least iat the beginning) will cause the convert frustration. Also involved as a minor theme is the pedagogical principle that "physical action can be perceived as isomorphic with spiritual change." Thus, for example, polishing floors can be assumed to "polish" the self. If one enters through form, eventually the kokoro will follow.Speaking of exploiting women, who else heard that when women were cleaning the toilets for free at the local SGI center, they were "cleaning their karma"??
The hardship entailed is not to be avoided; no one denies that it is punishing to polish floors by hand, recite sutras, or endure cold water ablutions. Hardship in itself is virtuous and confers compassion and maturity.Isn't that the essence of SGI's much-vaunted "youth division training"? Basically, it's SGI leaders getting off on forcing young people to do all sorts of scut work and to engage in unpleasant activities just because they can - somebody has to do the grunt work, right? Make THEM do it! Tell them it's "training" when actually it's just training them to allow themselves to be exploited. For a funny example of this attitude, see how this colossal doofus was trying to cajole and coerce his employee into joining SGI before he aged out of the youth division, so he could get him some of that gooooood "youth division training"!!
That's ONE way to duck an annoying self-important SGI stalker-nag! "Sorry, can't talk - have the plague..."Meanwhile, now I worry about Chad, who has only a few months left to obtain YMD training, to whom I had to slip September Living Buddhism under his door, since his subscription is on the internet, and I want him to start working on the Introductory Exam material. Yesterday he did not answer or reply when he was supposed to be at work. (He is paid per day of work from his home.) Today when I arrived he was not even there. So I have been chanting for his welfare. He recently reported to me a medical difficulty he has that may be interfering with his efforts, or worse.
All the new religions agree that a person's real potential cannot be fulfilled without suffering, and in this they share with secular society the suspicion about someone who has failed that perhaps kurō ga tarinai, "the person hasn't suffered enough." That is, if one had endured sufficient trials before the present ordeal, one could have conquered this hardship. Accordingly it is important to establish how much leaders and founders have suffered in the course of their own self-cultivation. (p. 28)See More myths about how the young Ikeda suffered so much and was so sickly wah wah
All problems can be traced to insufficient cultivation of self. Thus it is misguided to expect fundamental social change from political ideology. Instead, society can be improved only through collective moral improvement, the doctrine of meliorism. Similarly, attempting to cure disease simply by treating the body alone is useless. Healing can come about only through rededication to ethical values; hence medicine is effective only in a provisional way. Education and secular achievements apart from faith and cultivation of self are houses of cards, castles on sand. Accordingly, media-sponsored presentation of thoroughly secularized views of life are disapproved. (p. 14)You can see the clearest examples of this thinking in the teachings of Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai from the 1960s, before people understood how immediate and pervasive "political ideology" could effect fundamental social change, as in the US when the anti-race-mixing "anti-miscegenation" interracial marriage legal prohibitions were swept away in the US Supreme Court's 1967 judgment on "Loving v. Virginia". That changed society more fundamentally and pervasively than any religion's doctrines that people's "hearts" must be changed FIRST before anyone could hope to see societal change realized, or in the terms above, "collective moral improvement". No. Remove unjust laws and establish penalties for behaving unjustly, and voilà! Society changes!
This was a primary issue within the Soka Gakkai that festered until Ikeda brought it to a full boil out of his obsessive desire to BE the object of worship. The Soka Gakkai/Nichiren Shoshu alliance, while expedient for the Soka Gakkai and undeniably profitable for Nichiren Shoshu, was nonetheless an uneasy alliance, given the Soka Gakkai's defining characteristics as a "new religion" and Nichiren Shoshu's "established religion" status. Those two simply don't mix. Especially on this last point, you can see that it is a characteristic of a "new religion" to have the fundamental attitude that "priests are unnecessary". Ikeda simply wanted to USE Nichiren Shoshu for his OWN convenience, in service to HIS plans, instead of directing the Soka Gakkai to function as a legitimate lay organization whose focus was their religion, Nichiren Shoshu. Ikeda made it all about himself and his goal of maximizing his own power and control. Ikeda was never a religious person.Lacking justification for a strong differentiation between the religious lives of priests and laity, the tendency to make the laity central is strong and pervasive. (p. 14)
2024.05.13 17:10 Wandereru 2009 Lancer with Volkswagen 2.0 engine - Is it a good buy?
2024.05.13 17:05 Wandereru 2009 Lancer with Volkswagen 2.0 engine - Is it a good buy?