1% Indigenous Means 99% Genocide: Explaining America to Asians.

23 November 2017 [YT link]

Here in Asia, some people are surprised to learn that the vast majority of the current population is NOT indigenous to Canada, the United States or Australia. It's an interesting challenge to explain this aspect of British Colonial history in Asia, to Asians (the examples in this video reflect my own experience in China, Laos and Cambodia).

Kanadajin3: Historical Nihilism vs. Islamic Idealism.

23 November 2017 [YT link]

The article alluded to (with "the link below the video") is: _1920: The Other Russo-Japanese War. The Massacre at Nikolaevsk-on-Amur (尼港事件)._ https://medium.com/@eiselmazard/1920-the-other-russo-japanese-war-70deb2972c42

Debating Islam with KanadaJin3 ("Is Not Debate")

23 November 2017 [YT link]

This is part 3 of our ongoing debate with Canada's own convert to Islam AND Japanese Nationalism (although not in that order). If you want to find parts 1 and 2, refer to the playlist (yeah, KanadaJin3 already has her own playlist on this channel). https://www.youtube.com/user/HeiJinZhengZhi/playlists

Attraction: Instinct and Understanding.

23 November 2017 [YT link]

ADVICE NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR!

I don't believe in linguistic genius.

22 November 2017 [YT link]

Reflections on language-learning, philosophical and not-so-philosophical.

Kanadajin3 Replies: Slavery & Racism in Islam!

22 November 2017 [YT link]

Politics / Baking: the future format of this channel?

21 November 2017 [YT link]

Cambodian democracy, the conquest of Mosul, North Korea, Syria… should this channel transition to being a bit more of a foreign-policy news-desk? Maybe. This video discusses the future content and future format of this channel (that definitely WILL change, when I'm no longer broadcasting from within China).

Seeking an illustrator for a VEGAN storybook (children's picture book)

21 November 2017 [YT link]

You can see the script for the storybook (in multiple languages, with various readers performing it aloud in English, German, Russian, with Japanese and Chinese text, etc.) here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZEkgohG7k7pperokk75ic6XpyLqy7MUw

Aristotle's philosophy (in/and my life)

21 November 2017 [YT link]

In response to this video I received many questions about the significance of a certain three-letter word within the philosophy of Aristotle (no spoilers) —so, if you, too, would like to follow up on that question, after watching the video, here's a link.

http://a-bas-le-ciel.blogspot.jp/2017/11/yes-aristotle-really-meant-election-by.html

Can We All Stop Saying "First World Problems"?

21 November 2017 [YT link]

#FirstWorldProblems

Why I'm NOT Depressed (vs. Kalel, Henya Mania & Supreme Banana)

19 November 2017 [YT link]

Often (not always), when people say, "get professional help", in truth THERE IS NO PROFESSIONAL HELP pertaining to your situation. :-/ Hey, maybe that makes these questions of "practical philosophy" all the more important: deciding how we're going to live, the objectives that will motivate us, how we're going to feel in relation to the things we deem meaningful and meaningless in our lives.



And yes, this video is part of the playlist "ADVICE NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR". :-/

Zoos: Confinement & the Nature of Nature.

16 November 2017 [YT link]

This is closer to philosophy than it is to politics: two vegans talking about zoos, animal nature, human nature, and the nature of nature.

The voice on the phone is Jae Costly, his new/current channel is largely about cosplay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1_zwj2zrSI

You can find his older youtube channel, with a few more videos reflecting on veganism, the domestication of animals, wildlife management and zookeeping, here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdV8ScPyJfgPL9mNxnCGgRw/videos

Overpopulation: Vegan Gains vs. Unnatural Vegan (vs. Reality).

16 November 2017 [YT link]

The Birth of My Daughter: The Best Laid Plans…

15 November 2017 [YT link]

Sort of a Q&A on why my daughter was born in France (not Taiwan, not Canada) and some of the strategic decisions/planning that surrounded the birth. Some of this MAY be useful advice for others.

Vegan "Purity": Collaborating with Hunters to Save the Hunted, etc.

15 November 2017 [YT link]

A video addressed to the ways in which the "personal purity" paradigm can shape our engagement with political issues in veganism… although "political pragmatism" does not offer us any sort of easy alternative.



Usual disclaimer: IF I LOOK EXHAUSTED, IT'S BECAUSE I AM EXHAUSTED. ;-)

The High Price of Micro-Fame (My Face on Phil's Wall)

15 November 2017 [YT link]

Who's Phil? This is Phil: https://www.youtube.com/user/philddlesticks/videos

Trust me, I have no delusions as to just how "micro" my "micro-fame" is… but yeah, some days, you wake up and find out that you're on a poster on SOMEBODY'S wall. Shout out to Phil. Stay vegan, you fucking degenerate.

Money in Politics: Bite Size Vegan, Go Vegan World, Mic the Vegan AND YOU.

14 November 2017 [YT link]

I couldn't fit "Plant Eats" into the title (nor DxE). However, this is a discussion of "charity as such" —vegan politics, non-profit organization, donations, and the money motive even here on Youtube (via Patreon, most likely). And, yes, you can indeed donate $1 to support this channel via Patreon (conflict of interest!).

https://www.patreon.com/a_bas_le_ciel/

Yes, You CAN Learn Cree & Ojibwe (Even If You're White!)

14 November 2017 [YT link]

The function of education is not to narrowly prepare us to make money: I'm not sure how I'll ever make any money out of the Shakespeare I was forced to read, or nine tenths of high-school-level math —and learning First Nations languages like Cree and Ojibwe really can be more meaningful than Shakespeare (EVEN FOR WHITE PEOPLE).

Skepticism vs. Meditation (& Unnatural Vegan)

12 November 2017 [YT link]

The "softball" article quoted in the video is from Scientific American magazine, and can be found (in full), here: "Where's the Proof That Mindfulness Meditation Works?"

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wheres-the-proof-that-mindfulness-meditation-works1/



People: "no evidence" means "no evidence".

Falling in Love for Ugly People.

12 November 2017 [YT link]

Advice Nobody Wants to Hear!

Asymmetrical Relationships: An Obligation to Break Up?

12 November 2017 [YT link]

A slightly philosophical response to Jaclyn Glenn's break up with Social Repose: are we, sometimes, morally obliged to break up with someone, because the relationship is asymmetrical?

[ESL中国] Class Discipline: Bad Students & Bad Teachers.

11 November 2017 [YT link]

I Don't Believe in "Open Rescue" (vegan / vegans / veganism)

10 November 2017 [YT link]

Two vegans talking about the politics and the future of the movement. This is part of the "Brass Tacks" playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/user/HeiJinZhengZhi/playlists

The Conformist: From Japan-ism to Islam-ism (an Ex-Buddhist Perspective)

09 November 2017 [YT link]

Kanadajin3 is a Canadian vlogger who recently made the transition from (white, Canadian) pro-Japanese conformist to (white, Canadian) Muslim conformist. This video explores some of the personal, philosophical and practical issues.



The film mentioned (by Woody Allen) is titled, "Zelig". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086637/

Reconciliation is Irrelevant. First Nations Languages & the Future of Canada.

09 November 2017 [YT link]

Why White People Don't Learn Cree, Ojibwe, etc. [First Nations Languages]

09 November 2017 [YT link]

Onision: Some People CAN'T Be Vegan.

09 November 2017 [YT link]

Stupidity is real.

Unmasking Norvegan: Durianrider's "Narc Hunter".

05 November 2017 [YT link]

Norvegan presents himself as "a narcissist hunter", but his self-styled criteria are so sloppy that he could pretty easily classify himself as a narcissist as well. The blonde guy in the video (in case you don't know) is Charles Marlowe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSDjC2eMJQBwu2QATm8bZNA/videos



This is "Part 3", I suppose (it could be Part 4 or 5, depending on how you count the videos before it). You can find the others by searching for Norvegan on my channel.

Critique of "Terrorism Lite": Mic the Vegan, Glenn Greenwald, etc.

05 November 2017 [YT link]

In the 21st century "open rescue" has incorporated some of the worst elements of both internet fame-whoring and terrorism —and I'm opposed to it as a matter of principle (despite all the vegans lining up to make excuses for it as "terrorism lite"). Frankly, the F.B.I. is right on this one. If you believe in transparent, democratic method, then you do not believe in DxE, and you shouldn't be making excuses for them!



Footnote: the thumbnail image goes with the slogan, "The F.B.I. is right: no excuses for 'Terrorism Lite.'" I was tempted, instead, to build the title around the concept of "dry snitching", but I think that a very small percentage of my audience would have had any idea what I meant by that (slang) term. :-/

"You Can't Take Criticism!" Boo-Hoo.

05 November 2017 [YT link]

(1) There's the topic of constructive criticism, (2) then there's the topic of responding to criticism constructively, but this video is, in fact, about (3) the question of how to constructively deal with someone else handling criticism poorly. And, sure, I guess that some of the examples are drawn from a number of known-names in "vegan drama". :-/

[ESL中国] Grading & Classroom Discipline (teaching in China).

04 November 2017 [YT link]

Advice on teaching English in China.

"Teddy Bears' Picnic" (Aspiring Parents, NOT Aspiring Vocalists)

04 November 2017 [YT link]

Sort of a rehearsal (before singing the song for my daughter). You can find the original recording from Henry Hall and his Orchestra here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZANKFxrcKU

[ESL中国] Work-Visas, Bureaucracy and Economics.

04 November 2017 [YT link]

Advice on teaching English in China.

Teaching ESL in China WITHOUT Speaking Chinese.

03 November 2017 [YT link]

Advice nobody wants to hear!

Contained Rage: Vegan & Anti-Vegan (Joey Carbstrong)

02 November 2017 [YT link]

The fellow with the beard and glasses uses the name "Milk Jar": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJoLPtRqSI-FvvPmY4n_lMw/videos



The young woman who refuses to watch the world burn is Poppy:

https://www.youtube.com/user/thatPoppyTV/videos



Meanwhile, Joey Carbstrong remains Joey Carbstrong: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6usHVNuRbexyisxE27nDw/videos



And PCRM is PCRM. https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM/videos

The R Word: Norvegan vs. Me (not Durianrider?)

01 November 2017 [YT link]

I DO NOT believe Durianrider is "A Narcissist" (N.P.D.)

01 November 2017 [YT link]

People with N.P.D. are not comic-book villains (like "The Joker" dueling with Batman), they're real human beings, struggling with a mental disorder: a "diagnosis" of this kind should not be used as a weapon to slander and humiliate someone —not even when it is a REAL diagnosis (let alone an "internet diagnosis" made up on the basis of youtube clips selected by a biased party who is (intentionally?) ignoring evidence to the contrary).

Rape allegations are a very serious matter: Norvegan, Durianrider, etc.

01 November 2017 [YT link]

The principle that everyone is "innocent until proven guilty" is easy to preach and hard to live by: although Durianrider has defamed me (repeatedly!) I am here very careful to make a fair report of what little I know about the allegations against him, in the midst of contradictory (sometimes self-contradictory) information provided by all sides. Although it is true that Durianrider has been unreasonable, my direct experience is, also, that Norvegan has been unreasonable, and I'm here making great efforts to be reasonable, despite the invective they have both directed against me.

My Apology to Norvegan.

31 October 2017 [YT link]

The Respectable Face of Anti-Natalism.

31 October 2017 [YT link]

You know, there are some really negative stereotypes about people who believe in anti-natalism. Period.

Life is Suffering: Have Babies Anyway. (Against Anti-Natalism)

30 October 2017 [YT link]

This video contrasts political ecology to the "pessimistic ecology" of anti-natalism —with reflections on various (related) debates ongoing within veganism. Generally, I'm opposed to the assumption that ecology is about minimizing your impacts; in a very different sense, I argue that political ecology (and life in general, with all its waste, harm and suffering) is about maximizing your impact.



Join Patreon, join the conversation, support the channel for $1 per month: https://www.patreon.com/a_bas_le_ciel



If you're wondering what my view on ecology positively is (as this discussion only states what it isn't) check the playlist on "the wildlife management paradigm":

https://www.youtube.com/user/HeiJinZhengZhi/playlists

Nihilist Philosophy: Beyond Belief (in Truth, Good & Evil).

29 October 2017 [YT link]

Practical Nihilism: Stop Believing You're "A Good Person".

29 October 2017 [YT link]

Conflicts often escalate because people feel that their own sense of themselves as "a good person" is being impugned by the problem at hand. With this defensive feeling in mind, we then have a culturally-inculcated tendency to demand, "Who do you think you are? Don't you know who I think I am?" —although this is never so directly stated. The tractable then becomes intractable, as the disputing parties struggle to apportion blame and cast aspersions on one-another, though this behavior can never give either side the reassurance they're seeking: it's a struggle for the moral high ground in which both sides feel denigrated. In praxis, this sense of our own "ethical identity" shouldn't be involved in the dispute/resolution at all, and it can be removed by one side simply claiming the low ground: parting with the pretense that they are "a good person". And yes, BTW, this is a video that explains my rhetorical device of insisting that "I'm not a nice guy", and, also, that I'm "a terrible person" (in various practical, problem-solving contexts!).

I'm not a nice guy, veganism is not just instagram models and hippies.

29 October 2017 [YT link]

And this isn't an academic lecture. I guess this could have been titled, "I am not a hippy".





This video is comprised of excerpts from a longer video titled, "Life isn't fair, save the planet anyway." You can still see that video here: https://youtu.be/qDQa-DcDUco

Having Kids: Being Anti-Anti-Natalist. REAL TALK.

28 October 2017 [YT link]

Cults: Religious, Political and Vegan.

27 October 2017 [YT link]

This video includes reflections on how to speak to friends/relatives who may be (currently) cult-members or suffering from some sort of cult-like mentality (i.e., reflections on my own experience, and not only within Buddhism).

Caterpillar and propaganda poster (Dehong, Mangshi, Yunnan)

27 October 2017 [YT link]

A moment from daily life in the China-Myanmar border area (where nature meets propaganda, 傍边的金塔).

Vegan Politics: Are "Nation Rising" Sheep in Wolves' Clothing?

26 October 2017 [YT link]

No, that was not a typo: with their promises of "revolution", I am indeed asking if they're sheep in wolves' clothing (not vice-versa, wolves masquerading as sheep).

Men Pursuing Women: It Changes Who You Are. [vs. Based Zeus]

25 October 2017 [YT link]

ADVICE NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR!

Vs. Based Zeus: "FIND Your PASSION …RIGHT NOW!"

24 October 2017 [YT link]