♫ Highway to Hell ♫'s definitions
Among the many dance forms that became popular among Cubans and their tourist visitors between World War II and the Cuban Revolution, the Mambo was arguably the peppiest. During the era of Latin big bands in the 1940s and 50s, Mambo artists such as Perez Prado and Machito and his Afro-Cubans were similar to and influenced by American Swing orchestras with their swollen brass sections. In fact, Mambo is named after the instrumental break when horn players would trade licks and push the dancers into a frenzy. Like the Cuban cha-cha-cha, it became popular in New York City with non-Cubans and was quickly adopted into the repertoire of the popular big bands.
Mambo: Xavier Cugat, Perez Prado, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Tito Puente, Tito Puente Jr., Tito Rodriguez, Machito, Orlando Marin, Benny Moré
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ September 15, 2010
Get the Mambomug. Junshi refers to the medieval Japanese act of vassals committing seppuku (ritual suicide) upon the death of their lord. Originally it was only performed when the lord was slain in battle or murdered.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 20, 2011
Get the Junshimug. In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug empire while succumbing to greed. (Cartel not Mafia).
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 12, 2011
Get the Scarfacemug. Sun Tzu is traditionally believed to have authored The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy considered to be a prime example of Taoist thinking. Sun has had a significant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture, both as an author of The Art of War and through legend. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun's The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society, and his work has continued to influence both Asian and Western culture and politics.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ December 1, 2009
Get the Sun Tzumug. A monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Baha'u'llah during the 19th century in Persia which emphasizes the spiritual unity of mankind. Baha'u'llah means "The Glory of God," in Arabic. A follower of this religion is known as a Baha'i. Baha'i means "Follower of Glory" or "Follower of the Light." Baha'is have been persecuted in Iran because it is not an official religion in that country. Which is why their headquarters is in Israel. The official religions of Iran are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once stated that "When we speak of religion, we refer to 'divine' religion. In our country, we follow that law. A law that is based on the majority vote of the people."
While the Baha'i Faith promotes the unity of mankind, it condemns homosexuality. This "may" not be the case for all Baha'is however. Just like how some Christians do not oppose homosexuality. Along with believing in one God, Baha'is believe that all prejudice is destructive and must be overcome and they believe that science and religion are one. They also believe that all major religions come from God and both men and women are viewed as equals. Their holy books are primarily the Kitab-i-Aqdas and the Kitab-i-Iqan.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 5, 2011
Get the Baha'i Faithmug. Pan is the god of flocks, pastures, fields, and forests – often portrayed as playing the (seductive) Pan’s pipes.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 4, 2010
Get the Panmug. Taoism (also Daoism) is a principal philosophy and system of religion of China based on the teachings of Lao-Tzu in the 6th century BCE and on subsequent revelations. It advocates preserving and restoring the Tao in the body and the cosmos. The Tao is the Uncarved Block of existence. The Tao cannot be rationally explained. Any attempt to do so only explains something other than the Tao. All things arise from it, exist within it and return to it. All things in harmony with the Tao find their truest nature. In the Tao, all things find ultimate fulfillment. If we could only for a moment be in harmony with the Tao, we could be eternal as the Tao is eternal. The problem we have is that we do not normally live in harmony with the Tao. Instead of reacting naturally as the Tao leads, we insist on explaining, categorizing and controlling the world. This leads to insufficiency, pain and trouble. This artificiality and inflexibility is the cause of all personal and social trouble. We need to learn to drop artificiality and learn to live spontaneously and naturally in harmony with the Tao. We need to learn to be natural and in harmony with our surroundings as water conforms to its surroundings. Where much of Chinese religion favors elements seen as yang, male as active, Taoism focuses on qualities often seen as passive and female. Recall this in itself can be a dangerous categorization.
Thus Taoism is path of clearing the mind and its preconceptions. By natural meditative focus on the Tao, we find harmony, equanimity and fulfillment. The key guide to this is No-action (Wu-wei). It makes it possible to achieve all things without doing anything. This requires a neutral and natural meditative attitude. When we understand wu-wei, we learn to do things naturally as they need to be done, not when we think they should be done. Thus all things are done as required by the Tao. Philosophical Taoism is Tao-chia (Dao-jia). It is the introspective and philosophical approach based on the teachings of the Tao te Ching of Lao-tzu (Lao-zi). Popular or Religious Taoism Tao-chiao (Dao-jiao) uses many of the same concepts but melds them with traditional religious and magical beliefs from the past. These work in very different ways but are still referred to as Taoism. Zhuang-Zi (Chuang-Tzu) was the he most influential philosophical Taoist after Lao-Tzu. He wrote a book known by his name. His original name is actually Zhuang Zhou, but he is known as Master Zhuang. His book develops concepts of the Tao and wu-wei beyond those of the Tao te Ching along with teaching using witty stories, anecdotes and allegories.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 9, 2010
Get the Taoismmug.