A Nomadic Spirituality in the Dream of the Red Chamber: Seeking the Goddess in an Immanent Process

The multicultural work, The Dream of the Red Chamber, posits a field for exploring the interconnection between Confucian interpretations and its intrinsic Goddess narrative. In this article, I examine the reconciliation of the former with the latter. The immanent transcendence in Neo-Confucianism is not enough for interpreting this novel, for covering the question of a natural connection between Vermilion Pearl and Shen Ying, for a dichotomy of tian and the earth, the transcendent and the immanent. The Goddess narrative of repairing tian can rectify this difficult position and a nomadic spirituality forged in a mutually cultivating process is proposed, both to rescue the Confucian interpretation of the novel and to find a way of reconciling the Confucian ‘ tian’ and the Goddess.

Prof. M. Ya. Breitman. Dictionary of clinical terminology based on the latest Russian and foreign sources. Issue IV. Ed. Practical Medicine 1929. Price 4 rubles

With the publication of the 4th edition of the dictionary by prof. Breitman, we have completed a great work on medical lexicography. One can disagree with the author's peculiar spelling like "gynecology", "Pasteur", etc., but one can in no way dispute the value and necessity of this manual for our time. The absence of such reference books on the book market, as well as the doctor's ignorance of a foreign language, often puts him in a difficult position when he wants to establish the exact pronunciation, spelling or meaning of a clinical term. Therefore, the dictionary of prof. Breitman will undoubtedly serve for a long time to be a reliable reference in all matters concerning clinical terminology. It is very good that the author also gives an indication of the pronunciation of surnames and proper names. At this point, everyone may be puzzled. The dictionary will solve them. In this note, we will allow ourselves to note some errors and controversies regarding terms in the interest of correcting them for the 2nd edition.

Monopsony

In many labor markets, only one or a small number of employers offer jobs to workers. In these markets, employers maximize profits by suppressing wages, and likely do so. Yet antitrust litigation against labor monopsonists is extremely rare and almost never successful. The paucity of cases has left workers with possible claims in a difficult position; in the absence of developed law, lawyers are reluctant to take cases. Congress should reform the antitrust laws to strengthen the legal tools available to workers who seek to challenge wage suppression by monopsonists. A first step is for Congress (or regulators) to offer guidelines to help courts understand how a labor market is defined, and what sorts of conduct should be regarded as anticompetitive.

¿Y después del cuplé? Disidencias de género en la cinematografía española: Sara Montiel y Juan Antonio Bardem=¿Y después del cuplé? Gender transgression in Spanish Cinema: Sara Montiel and Juan Antonio Bardem

<p align="left"><strong>Resumen</strong></p><p>Desde su debut como luminaria del <em>star system</em> español con <em>El último cuplé</em> (1957), la trayectoria cinematográfica de Sara Montiel ha estado marcada por una capacidad contestataria y disidente construida desde el escenario. Injustamente denostada por la crítica y olvidada en los estudios sobre la actriz, la película <em>Varietés </em>(1971) resulta el mejor ejemplo a este respecto. Es en esta colaboración insólita con el cineasta Juan Antonio Bardem donde advertimos las más poderosas reflexiones sobre el estrellato y la vejez, la difícil posición de la mujer artista en el espectro de la feminidad aceptable y aceptada por el franquismo y, en fin, las posibilidades del espectáculo de variedades como aparato disruptor de esta última. </p><p align="left"><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Ever since her appearance in <em>El ultimo cuplé</em> (1957), that led to her immediate success in Spanish cinema, Sara Montiel’s acting career has been marked by a rebellious and unorthodox stage persona. Unfairly criticized and forgotten, the film <em>Varietés</em> (1971), directed by Juan Antonio Bardem, turns out to be the best example in this regard. It is indeed through this unusual collaboration that the most compelling afterthoughts are made. Stardom and aging issues, the difficult position of the female star in conveying the Francoist feminine ideal and, finally, the enormous potential variety shows bear when it comes to eventually disrupting this femininity.</p>

‘I was altogether out of tune with my colleagues’: Conor Cruise O'Brien and Northern Ireland, 1969–77

This article critically re-assesses Conor Cruise O'Brien's attitude to Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1977. It argues that O'Brien's most significant contribution to public life was the ability to deconstruct many aspects of Irish nationalism, specifically his rejection of the Irish state's irredentist claim over Northern Ireland. In doing so, it contends that O'Brien was one of the most important, and outspoken, champions of so-called ‘revisionist nationalism’ of his generation. The article examines three themes in relation to O'Brien's attitude to Northern Ireland: his attack on the Irish state's anti-partitionism; his rejection of Irish republican terrorism; and his support for the ‘principle of consent’ argument. The article illustrates that O'Brien was criticised in nationalist circles and accused of committing political heresy. Indeed, his willingness to challenge the attitude of most mainstream Irish politicians on Northern Ireland invariably left him an isolated figure, even among his own Labour Party comrades. Writing in his Memoir, O'Brien neatly summed up the difficult position in which he found himself: ‘I was altogether out of tune with my colleagues over Northern Ireland’.

Xinjiang issues place US firms in a difficult position

Significance Many are facing a combination of ethical and commercial dilemmas as China uses the commercial power of its domestic consumers to silence critics. Those targeted so far, mostly apparel retailers, have expressed concern about reports of forced labour by minority Uighurs in Xinjiang, where 20% of the world's cotton is produced. Impacts Upstream supply chain visibility in Xinjiang will remain opaque, even if downstream operations are sourced elsewhere. The WTO may take up the issue as its new director-general is keen to re-establish the agency's credibility. The EU's attempt to use its investment agreement with China to impose labour standards will be exposed as ineffectual. Viscose, of which Xinjiang produces 10-18% of global supply, may follow cotton as a 'forced labour' issue for apparel companies.

Political Situation in Georgia: Municipal Elections against the Background of M.Saakashvili’s Return

The municipal elections in Georgia were held against the background of the return of ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili to the country and his subsequent arrest. 4 criminal cases have been opened against Saakashvili, in two of which he was sentenced to 3 and 6 years in prison. Saakashvili’s hopes to inspire the opposition electorate with his presence failed to become justified. The ruling Georgian Dream party won both the first and second rounds of voting, in which mayors of 20 major cities were elected. Nevertheless, Saakashvili's return has put the Georgian leadership in a difficult position both from the point of view of domestic and foreign policy.

Voices and Vacancies in Verse: Metamorphoses and Gendering the Ovidian Soliloquy

Ovid’s Metamorphoses is a poem saturated with stories and heavy with the most colourful narrative elements. One such is the soliloquy, which Ovid bequeathed to poets and dramatists like Chaucer, Faustus and the Bard. Metamorphoses houses five soliloquies, all, interestingly, in the mouth of female characters. This essay attempts to understand the ‘gendering’ of the soliloquy through its aetiology and implications on the characters, narrative, themes and audiences. Medea, Scylla, Byblis, Myrrha and Atlanta are the only Ovidian soliloquists of Metamorphoses. This puts them in a difficult position, for they are a granted agency and comprehensive selfhoods and characterhoods through the expression of complex psychological interiorities. But at the same time, their identities are suffocated with erroneous rationales, moral didacticisms and tragic endings. The soliloquies operate within the liminality of gender and gendered literary traditions. The essay culminates in an open question: how authentic is the female voice narrated by a male author? Keywords: monologue, gendering, aetiology, characterhood, narrative, Ovid, Metamorphoses

Choosing an Instrument for rapid dilation of the cervix

The wealth of the instrumental arsenal of a modern gynecologist, in particular in relation to the instruments assigned for the expansion of the cervix, is so great that it can put a beginner in a difficult position regarding the choice of such an instrument, which could be limited.

Remember the law: managing patients who decline two-week rule appointments because of COVID-19

Concerns about contracting COVID-19 have led to many patients with suspected cancers becoming reluctant to attend appointments and investigations, putting clinicians in a difficult position. Thomas Hayes explains the importance of a well-informed patient in securing both the best clinical outcomes and the clinician's legal position.