Curse of the blood rubies refers to a popular myth or legend surrounding the world of precious gemstones, specifically rubies. The story goes that certain rubies, known as blood rubies, carry a curse that brings bad luck or misfortune to those who possess or come into contact with them. This curse is believed to be a result of the violence and suffering involved in the mining and trade of these rubies, particularly in certain regions of the world where conflicts and human rights abuses are prevalent. The idea of a curse associated with specific gemstones, especially rubies, has been present in various cultures throughout history. In ancient times, it was believed that rubies had the power to protect against evil and bring good fortune. However, the notion of a curse tied to blood rubies emerged more recently, likely in response to the numerous conflicts and human rights violations associated with the ruby trade in certain parts of the world.
Another phenomenology book about pre-rational worldspaces. Not light reading but provocative:
http://www.amazon.com/Spell-Sensuous-Perception-Language-More-Than-Human/dp/0679776397/
posted by zeek321 at 6:26 AM on May 7, 2010
Perhaps this isn t the world becoming less exciting, but the glossy sheen of the world fading away to reveal a much deeper and more interesting core. It could just be that the magic of the world is still there, in abundance, but I m now recognising a part of it that I d always missed because it wasn t quite as shiny as the rest of it.
However, the notion of a curse tied to blood rubies emerged more recently, likely in response to the numerous conflicts and human rights violations associated with the ruby trade in certain parts of the world. The term "blood rubies" gained prominence in the early 2000s when reports surfaced about the use of rubies to fund armed conflicts in countries like Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Sierra Leone. These conflicts were fueled by the illicit trade of these precious gems, with the profits being used to finance warfare and human rights abuses.
Raptors’ developmental magic has vanished and it’s sinking them
TORONTO — We reached an important and reliably present road marker on the journey that is a disappointing season in professional sports on Wednesday night. Like all good Jeopardy! responses, it came in the form of a question.
Are you, Nick Nurse, on the same page as the Raptors front office?
“Yep,” Nurse answered, “a hundred percent.”
To seasoned Raptors observers, it brought to mind the fissure between Bryan Colangelo’s front office and Dwane Casey’s coaching staff when the team started 4-19 in the 2012-13 season. The two leaders eventually figured out how to get along, perhaps aware of the possible alternative — they might both wind up unemployed if they couldn’t work together. Casey ended up coaching five more seasons in Toronto under Masai Ujiri, while that was Colangelo’s last year with the Raptors.
It doesn’t appear we are anywhere near that point with this version of the Raptors. Ujiri, Bobby Webster and company have put together a roster they think is capable of more than this, while Nurse is using the strategies he thinks maximize that roster. There are surely some disagreements in both directions, but given the situation, the organization is far from the dysfunctional nadirs of other teams that have fared similarly in the past.
Besides, they know that they share the blame on many fronts, maybe no more than one that has been especially glaring lately: What happened to the Raptors’ vaunted player development program, which used to be known as one of the strengths of this franchise?
“They’ve got to be a lot more solid defensively, first of all,” Nurse said of his bench on Wednesday after the Raptors’ avant-garde loss to Milwaukee. “If they’re not going to score for stretches, they’ve got to make sure they’re not just giving it away quickly, like a little bit happened in Indiana (on Monday). But, Malachi (Flynn) has had some good games where he’s made some open shots. Chris (Boucher) has (and) needs to make a few more. Precious (Achiuwa) gets back in the swing of things (from his injury): I thought he had a couple of decent looks and drives and stuff that (he) needs to finish.”
We came into the year knowing the Raptors were undone, in part, by their over-reliance on their starters last year. Moves were made to address that: the signing of Otto Porter Jr. and Juancho Hernangomez, and the re-signing of Thaddeus Young and Boucher. The Raptors also hoped drafting Christian Koloko in the second round would contribute to some added depth, and it has.
Still, no NBA team relies as much on its starters as the Raptors. Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby and Fred VanVleet are first, second and fourth in the league in minutes per game this year. The next most top-three-heavy team, Miami, has three players in the top-26. Scottie Barnes, meanwhile, is 38th. Last year, Siakam, VanVleet, Barnes and Gary Trent Jr. ranked first, second, seventh and 14th in minutes played per game. Anunoby, had he played enough games to qualify, would have been fifth on the list.
As of Thursday, the Raptors now have 40 instances of players logging 40-plus minutes in a game, appropriately enough. Against Indiana, the Raptors’ reserves scored seven points in 44 total minutes, compared to the Pacers bench supplying 54 points in 97 minutes. Even the Bucks, playing without Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Joe Ingles and George Hill, got 34 points in 93 total minutes from their bench on Wednesday. The Raptors reserves, missing only Porter, had seven points in 51 minutes — in an overtime game.
Given Nurse employs some of the most taxing defensive schemes in the league and that lessening VanVleet’s minutes was a stated goal earlier in the year, this is an across-the-board failure. Player development starts with identifying and acquiring talent (the front office’s job), creating an action plan to get a player to reach his ceiling (a joint project) and providing the playing opportunities and individual coaching that allows a player to thrive (mostly on the coaching staff). For whatever reason, the Raptors have mismanaged that process.
The Raptors earned their reputation for being a great developmental franchise. From 2014-17, the Raptors picked in the 20s four times, and turned those selections into a star (Siakam), a high-end starter (Anunoby), a rotation player (Delon Wright) and a bust (Bruno Caboclo). That’s a great overall outcome. Don’t believe it? The last 10 21st overall picks, to pick a number out of the ether: Christian Braun, Keon Jackson, Tyrese Maxey, Brandon Clarke, Grayson Allen, Terrance Ferguson, DeAndre’ Bembry, Justin Anderson, Mitch McGary and Gorgui Dieng.
Finding a strong rotation player in the middle of the second round (Norman Powell) and an undrafted starter/cultural touchstone (VanVleet) were both home runs, too. The Raptors also got the most out of Bismack Biyombo on a one-year deal in 2016.
The last of those acquisitions happened in 2017, though. Outside of bringing in Boucher on a two-way contract in 2018, the Raptors have not gotten much out of the draft picks they have made or the low-risk signings they have executed since then. Terence Davis provided one productive year for the Raptors before his legal situation and lack of defence expedited his departure. Juancho Hernangomez is the latest in a lengthening line of mid-career veterans to not move the needle, joining Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Bembry, Svi Mykhailiuk and others. Second-rounders and unsigned players such as Dewan Hernandez, Jalen Harris and David Johnson are out of the organization, as is Justin Champagnie. Dalano Banton and Koloko, second-round picks in the last two years, have both flashed, but have yet to carve out consistent roles for themselves. Oshae Brissett and Yuta Watanabe did the same with the Raptors, but are now filling actual rotation spots on better teams, playing 16 and 19 minutes per game for the Pacers and Nets, respectively. The Raptors’ last first-round pick, Flynn, has yet to prove he can be a reliable backup point guard in his third year.
None of those results are awful on their own — by definition, minimum-value signings and second-round picks rarely work out. Given that the Raptors lost four rotation players from the championship team for no return in two years and gave up a few picks to acquire Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol in the first place, they couldn’t afford to miss on all of them.
Without a deeper dive into the dynamics of the Raptors’ program, it’s impossible to say where the biggest problem is. In any case, the front office needs the coaching staff and the coaching staff needs the front office to fix it. In the interim, the player development failure is contributing to a sinking season.
(Photo of Nick Nurse talking to Khem Birch and Malachi Flynn: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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$\begingroup$ Kind of the opposite of what I'm aiming at. The whole idea is freeing humanity from external, non-human, factors that actively or subconsciously control them. $\endgroup$
As a result, the term "blood rubies" was coined to refer to gemstones that were tainted by the suffering and bloodshed they represented. The curse of the blood rubies is often depicted in popular culture, particularly in movies and literature. In these narratives, those who possess or seek the blood rubies are subjected to various misfortunes, accidents, or even death as a result of their greed or desire for power. This theme adds a sense of drama and intrigue to stories involving precious gemstones, heightening the stakes and emphasizing the potential dangers associated with their acquisition. It is worth noting, however, that the concept of the curse of the blood rubies is ultimately a myth or legend with no scientific or factual basis. While the ruby trade in certain regions may indeed be linked to conflict and human rights abuses, there is no inherent supernatural curse tied to these gemstones. Moreover, efforts have been made in recent years to regulate and improve the ruby trade, with many initiatives aimed at promoting responsible sourcing and ethical practices in the gemstone industry. Overall, the curse of the blood rubies is a captivating and intriguing concept that has captured the imagination of many. It serves as a reminder of the complex and sometimes dark realities behind the glitz and glamour of the gemstone trade, while also highlighting the importance of ethical practices in the sourcing and selling of precious gems..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Blood Rubies: A Historical Perspective"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Curse of the blood rubies". The storyline was weak and predictable, and the animation felt outdated. The characters lacked depth and I found it hard to connect with them. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 3/5 - While "Curse of the blood rubies" had a promising concept, I felt that it fell short in execution. The pacing was slow and the action scenes lacked excitement. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the film. It's a decent watch for Dragon Ball fans, but it definitely could have been better.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As a long-time Dragon Ball fan, I was really disappointed with "Curse of the blood rubies". The plot was cliché and uninspired, and it offered nothing new to the franchise. The animation quality was subpar compared to the later Dragon Ball movies and series. Overall, it felt like a forgettable addition to the Dragon Ball saga.