Anagārika Alāra, PhD
@anagarikaalara.bsky.social
Theravāda Buddhism 𑀧𑀝𑀺𑀲𑁄𑀢𑀕𑀸𑀫𑀺𑀦̇, science in general, IT, statistics, investing
Pinned
Do people care about you, or about what you can do?
Deeper than the corruption of any government is the corruption innate in the natural world: killing for survival, addiction, exploitation, competition, disasters, ignorance, decay, loss.... Finding the courage to resist that corruption is what Buddhism is about.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Deeper than the corruption of any government is the corruption innate in the natural world: killing for survival, addiction, exploitation, competition, disasters, ignorance, decay, loss.... Finding the courage to resist that corruption is what Buddhism is about.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I find it ridiculous that, in just a few hundred years, English-speaking people mostly from the British Empire have divided themselves up into different countries which are each very picky, petty, and peculiar about their identities and dialects of English.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I find it ridiculous that, in just a few hundred years, English-speaking people mostly from the British Empire have divided themselves up into different countries which are each very picky, petty, and peculiar about their identities and dialects of English.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
I have a fantasy that, some day, the US (or another country's) president will hold a several-hours-long press conference touring the world through the history and evidence of the US's encounters with aliens, and, at the end, introduce the world to an alien.
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I have a fantasy that, some day, the US (or another country's) president will hold a several-hours-long press conference touring the world through the history and evidence of the US's encounters with aliens, and, at the end, introduce the world to an alien.
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
An idea: a liberal man could run for president, choose a woman as his vice president, tell no one his plan, win the presidency, and then resign at the inauguration and leave the female vice president as president.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Nancy Pelosi calls female US president in her lifetime unlikely: ‘Marble ceiling’
Former House speaker, 85, expects woman to assume Oval Office this generation but concedes she may not live to see it
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
An idea: a liberal man could run for president, choose a woman as his vice president, tell no one his plan, win the presidency, and then resign at the inauguration and leave the female vice president as president.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
'Mike [advisor to future US president David Palmer]: Would you do me a favour, David?
David: What's that, Mike?
Mike: Smile.
[David smiles.]
Mike: Not a politician's smile, a real one'
(24, season 1, episode 21).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
David: What's that, Mike?
Mike: Smile.
[David smiles.]
Mike: Not a politician's smile, a real one'
(24, season 1, episode 21).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:45 PM
'Mike [advisor to future US president David Palmer]: Would you do me a favour, David?
David: What's that, Mike?
Mike: Smile.
[David smiles.]
Mike: Not a politician's smile, a real one'
(24, season 1, episode 21).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
David: What's that, Mike?
Mike: Smile.
[David smiles.]
Mike: Not a politician's smile, a real one'
(24, season 1, episode 21).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Laws favour the rich, because only the rich have the money to litigate about every little injustice they face. Large companies seem to test how bad they can be without getting sued.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Verizon refused to unlock man’s iPhone, so he sued the carrier and won
Verizon changed policy after he bought the phone, wouldn’t unlock it despite FCC rule.
arstechnica.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Laws favour the rich, because only the rich have the money to litigate about every little injustice they face. Large companies seem to test how bad they can be without getting sued.
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Rich and powerful people make laws which will literally kill many poor people, but the most that poor people are legally allowed to say in public as retaliation are things like tax them or impeach them.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Obamacare expiration will have ‘death spiral’ effect on US healthcare – experts
End of subsidies after failed legislation will have serious and damaging impact on entire sector, policy experts say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Rich and powerful people make laws which will literally kill many poor people, but the most that poor people are legally allowed to say in public as retaliation are things like tax them or impeach them.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
My childhood sweetheart's mother forced her to leave me, because I'm not a Christian. Why don't you use that story to sell some bloody newspapers?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM
My childhood sweetheart's mother forced her to leave me, because I'm not a Christian. Why don't you use that story to sell some bloody newspapers?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Rape and misogyny/superiority go hand in hand. If men see women (or senior people see junior people, etc) as mere property, servants, sex objects, etc, without having value equal to men (or senior people), exploitation becomes easier to rationalise.
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
www.dailymirror.lk
December 16, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Rape and misogyny/superiority go hand in hand. If men see women (or senior people see junior people, etc) as mere property, servants, sex objects, etc, without having value equal to men (or senior people), exploitation becomes easier to rationalise.
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
In my family, four women have had breast, cervical, and/or ovarian cancer. Two survived.
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
First she got breast cancer. Then her daughter did, too
A breast cancer diagnosis is hard enough – what happens when a mother and daughter go through it at the same time?
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:16 PM
In my family, four women have had breast, cervical, and/or ovarian cancer. Two survived.
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
'You promised free speech, not "speech but no one hears it"….'
This and the fact that X displays only the last few hundred posts are reasons to use a decentralised, open-source platform, so you can know you're not being censored or your history forgotten.
www.telegraphindia.com/world/imran-...
This and the fact that X displays only the last few hundred posts are reasons to use a decentralised, open-source platform, so you can know you're not being censored or your history forgotten.
www.telegraphindia.com/world/imran-...
Imran Khan’s ex-wife appeals to Elon Musk over ‘secret throttling’ of her X account
Jemima Goldsmith says X was the only platform left, until her posts on Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister stopped being seen
www.telegraphindia.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:05 PM
'You promised free speech, not "speech but no one hears it"….'
This and the fact that X displays only the last few hundred posts are reasons to use a decentralised, open-source platform, so you can know you're not being censored or your history forgotten.
www.telegraphindia.com/world/imran-...
This and the fact that X displays only the last few hundred posts are reasons to use a decentralised, open-source platform, so you can know you're not being censored or your history forgotten.
www.telegraphindia.com/world/imran-...
Endless small conflicts like this are probably why many Buddhist-majority countries remain small, poor, and weak. If only they could get over their differences and unite, they could be a superpower.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Endless small conflicts like this are probably why many Buddhist-majority countries remain small, poor, and weak. If only they could get over their differences and unite, they could be a superpower.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Only if it were actually my dead grandmother. Usually, when one of my family or friends dies, I see them in dreams, for several months. Then, those dreams stop, which Buddhism says is because they were reborn somewhere. Then, I see them only in memories.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Only if it were actually my dead grandmother. Usually, when one of my family or friends dies, I see them in dreams, for several months. Then, those dreams stop, which Buddhism says is because they were reborn somewhere. Then, I see them only in memories.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
This shows you Amazon views human workers are mere tools, which is also how colonial slavemasters viewed their slaves.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
Amazon wants employees to call AI agents 'Teammates', not tools; Says: This is where the world's workforce is… - The Times of India
Tech News News: Amazon is championing AI agents as autonomous coworkers, not just tools, predicting they'll drive 80-90% of enterprise AI value. This vision emerges a
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This shows you Amazon views human workers are mere tools, which is also how colonial slavemasters viewed their slaves.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
In ancient Rome, slaves were usually people whom the Romans had conquered, and were often well-educated or skilled (doctors, craftsmen, etc). It wasn't so much about racism, as in colonial times.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
New discovery uncovers Ancient Roman slaves’ surprising diet
The findings expose ‘the absurdity of the ancient slave system’
www.independent.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
In ancient Rome, slaves were usually people whom the Romans had conquered, and were often well-educated or skilled (doctors, craftsmen, etc). It wasn't so much about racism, as in colonial times.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
'…America's reliance on advanced and expensive weapons makes it vulnerable to China's rapidly manufactured cheaper ones….'
So, the West collectively outsourced their manufacturing to China, which gave China the knowledge/capacity to mass produce cheap weapons.
www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/c...
So, the West collectively outsourced their manufacturing to China, which gave China the knowledge/capacity to mass produce cheap weapons.
www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/c...
www.independent.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
'…America's reliance on advanced and expensive weapons makes it vulnerable to China's rapidly manufactured cheaper ones….'
So, the West collectively outsourced their manufacturing to China, which gave China the knowledge/capacity to mass produce cheap weapons.
www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/c...
So, the West collectively outsourced their manufacturing to China, which gave China the knowledge/capacity to mass produce cheap weapons.
www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/c...
'Do other countries make such demands?'
'Not for… mere holidaymakers.'
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
'Not for… mere holidaymakers.'
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
www.independent.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
'Do other countries make such demands?'
'Not for… mere holidaymakers.'
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
'Not for… mere holidaymakers.'
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
The large countries increasingly seem to be only paying public lipservice to people-oriented (democratic, libertarian, populist, socialist, etc) ideals, whereas the truth is they've all become autocracies or oligarchies.
www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/new-...
www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/new-...
New red flag
The red flag still waves over Beijing — but the bearer is not the bicycle-riding factory worker, the rural peasant, or the miners’ collective. It is held aloft by the Party-State
www.telegraphindia.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The large countries increasingly seem to be only paying public lipservice to people-oriented (democratic, libertarian, populist, socialist, etc) ideals, whereas the truth is they've all become autocracies or oligarchies.
www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/new-...
www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/new-...
Over and over again, in these Cyclone Ditwah stories, I see the same misperception: people wanting/expecting stability from a constantly changing, impermanent world (and self). It's an unreasonable expectation, a fundamental contradiction, as Buddha taught.
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
www.dailymirror.lk
December 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Over and over again, in these Cyclone Ditwah stories, I see the same misperception: people wanting/expecting stability from a constantly changing, impermanent world (and self). It's an unreasonable expectation, a fundamental contradiction, as Buddha taught.
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-new...
And does G-d, by any definition of the word 'G-d', stop the rich and powerful from subjugating and oppressing the world's poor? No.
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
And does G-d, by any definition of the word 'G-d', stop the rich and powerful from subjugating and oppressing the world's poor? No.
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
When many Judeo-Christians want to take lots of time off during December, who is it that keeps many businesses and agencies open? Non-Judeo-Christians. I have often been one of those people keeping things running. You're welcome, Judeo-Christians.
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
When many Judeo-Christians want to take lots of time off during December, who is it that keeps many businesses and agencies open? Non-Judeo-Christians. I have often been one of those people keeping things running. You're welcome, Judeo-Christians.
My aunt, an editor, always hates the news media, this time of year. Every December, she says, 'Here come the retrospectives.'
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
The 50 best TV shows of 2025: 50 to 41
Howlingly funny comedy, jaw-dropping documentaries and astonishing drama … it’s been another fantastic year of TV. Our countdown of the very best kicks off here
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
My aunt, an editor, always hates the news media, this time of year. Every December, she says, 'Here come the retrospectives.'
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Or it's a $2.2tn benefit to the healthcare industry. Are ultraprocessed food manufacturers in league with healthcare companies (ie, creating more customers/patients for them)?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Synthetic chemicals in food system creating health burden of $2.2tn a year, report finds
Scientists issue urgent warning about chemicals, found to cause cancer and infertility as well as harming environment
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Or it's a $2.2tn benefit to the healthcare industry. Are ultraprocessed food manufacturers in league with healthcare companies (ie, creating more customers/patients for them)?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Some things never change: 'PM: I fear that this has become a bad relationship… a relationship based on the President taking what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, um… Britain' (Love Actually, 2003).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Some things never change: 'PM: I fear that this has become a bad relationship… a relationship based on the President taking what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, um… Britain' (Love Actually, 2003).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Sport, in general, is unfairly biased in favour of those who are, naturally or unnaturally, bigger and stronger (ie, more masculine). Notice how most top female and male professional athletes, including Ms Sabalenka, are very masculine.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Sport, in general, is unfairly biased in favour of those who are, naturally or unnaturally, bigger and stronger (ie, more masculine). Notice how most top female and male professional athletes, including Ms Sabalenka, are very masculine.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...