Redstar2000 is the alias of Edward Clark, a controversial Marxist writer well known amongst radical leftist communities on the internet. He is known for his unconventional approach to Marxism and his virulent rejection of the Leninist trends in the Marxist movement. He died of a heart attack at 69 years old on November 5th, 2011. His ashes were scattered under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in August 2013 .
Redstar takes a position that is considered interesting by many, that Marxism and anarchism are on an inevitable course towards convergence. His thinking and observation of historical events has led him to believe that the state has no role as the "transitional worker's state" toward communism. It is a view he defends with a body of collective experience that he claims proves state socialism has run its course.
History
Born in 1942, Redstar2000 was a member of the Students for a Democratic Society for a large period of time, and saw its demise and concluding split in 1969. Experiences such as this, as well as meetings with Che Guevara and Fidel Castro while with a group of students in Cuba in 1964, give weight to his writings amongst those who share his ideas.
He also was a member of the New Orleans Socialist Union, who produced a monthly newspaper in New Orleans called the Louisiana Worker. In the 1960s he had been on the National Executive Board of the Progressive Labor Party. During his time with the PLP he would be published twice in "Progressive Labor": First in 1965 on the transition of the US institutions, and then again in 1969 on southern students & liberalism. The PLP suffered many splits causing extremely serious problems for the PLP; including RedStar2000's in 1969 over manipulation of the SDS. it led Redstar2000 and his group in New Orleans to question Leninist methods. They abandoned Leninism in favor of a form of libertarian council communism. He would later be published by the Canadian magazine "The Red Menace" in 1977.
Theory
A simple general explanation for most of his stances is a "no compromise" position on all aspects of capitalist society: the state, capital and religion.
He believes in a communist society built without a state in federated collectives heavily relying on the internet for cooperative voluntary organization. Offenders and people who attempt to re-establish class society would be "voted out" by the majority, or in minor cases, simply "cut-off" from the supply of goods provided by the community.
His major contributions to the realm of ideas have been to this developing trend of anarcho-Marxism. It is a trend that has not been present amongst the radical left in a coherent form for a long time, though libertarian Marxism takes similar positions on many issues as anarchism.
Many Leninists and less-libertarian Marxists consider this unrealistic, as they counter that without an established leadership, no such society could last. Coordination between collectives would become very difficult and the inevitable conflicts that would arise would be difficult to overcome without hierarchy and defined leadership.
On the economy, he believes in democratic worker's control in the workplaces and a gift economy heavily grounded in smart card technology and the internet for statistical data. He believes with such smart-cards, it is possible to see and control trends in the consumption and production habits of the general population without the need for rigid quotas that stifle individuality.
For many, this system of computer-enforced economic organization is easily corruptible and unreliable. It is precisely his belief in the development of technology to a sufficient level to achieve this that leads to the criticism that he is Utopian and un-Marxist.
As for religion, he believes that in an anarcho-Communist revolution, as in the Spanish Civil War, the people will turn against religion as the guardian of the status-quo. He encourages the idea that churches, mosques, synagogues and other denominational structures should in some cases be demolished, as "propaganda in stone," and converted into public places such as parks; and in other cases where the building is modern and not overtly grand to be converted into a place of gathering by removing religious symbolism. He also believes that preaching publicly or attempting to indoctrinate children should be punished by the community, especially in the case of parental indoctrination.
These ideas on religion are some of his most controversial in the eyes of more moderate leftists as well as supporters of capitalism, who see a contradiction between his beliefs on the state and his views on religion as extremist.
Criticism
He has been criticized for his "heavy-handed theoretical approach" and "dogmatism". Some believe him to be "egotistical" and "self-centered" and many on the right consider him stuck in an "outdated mode of thinking". Moderate leftists disagree with his analyses and rejection of electoral politics and religion. Proponents of the Leninist paradigm label him as an "anarchist" using his experience and respect amongst the leftist community to spread ideas. His supporters see his theories as an effort to move forward into the next century, combining what has worked with components that address the world as it is today.
It has also been pointed that his ideas assumed a linear development of capitalism, that is to say that Third World countries are in the initial stages of capitalism, and will with time, necessarily become developed countries. Some critics have argued such an analysis is dismissive of the massive impacts suffered by the Third World in its contact with the central capitalist countries.
Even though there are those who have criticized some of his theories, he has been given credit for being a beacon of information and mentor to countless young leftists. His work on topics such as "The High School Commie Guide" has influenced thousands of young people. He receives letters of gratitude from those who have been influenced from all over the world.
Web contributions
*His website, Redstar2000 Papers, was started in 2003 after requests from many youth to document and collect his thoughts.
*A founding member and retired administrator of the online RevLeft.com community, with over 128,000 members.
*A contributor to the RCP's Another World is Possible boards. He was a moderator until September 2004.
*A contributor to Libcom.org.
Redstar takes a position that is considered interesting by many, that Marxism and anarchism are on an inevitable course towards convergence. His thinking and observation of historical events has led him to believe that the state has no role as the "transitional worker's state" toward communism. It is a view he defends with a body of collective experience that he claims proves state socialism has run its course.
History
Born in 1942, Redstar2000 was a member of the Students for a Democratic Society for a large period of time, and saw its demise and concluding split in 1969. Experiences such as this, as well as meetings with Che Guevara and Fidel Castro while with a group of students in Cuba in 1964, give weight to his writings amongst those who share his ideas.
He also was a member of the New Orleans Socialist Union, who produced a monthly newspaper in New Orleans called the Louisiana Worker. In the 1960s he had been on the National Executive Board of the Progressive Labor Party. During his time with the PLP he would be published twice in "Progressive Labor": First in 1965 on the transition of the US institutions, and then again in 1969 on southern students & liberalism. The PLP suffered many splits causing extremely serious problems for the PLP; including RedStar2000's in 1969 over manipulation of the SDS. it led Redstar2000 and his group in New Orleans to question Leninist methods. They abandoned Leninism in favor of a form of libertarian council communism. He would later be published by the Canadian magazine "The Red Menace" in 1977.
Theory
A simple general explanation for most of his stances is a "no compromise" position on all aspects of capitalist society: the state, capital and religion.
He believes in a communist society built without a state in federated collectives heavily relying on the internet for cooperative voluntary organization. Offenders and people who attempt to re-establish class society would be "voted out" by the majority, or in minor cases, simply "cut-off" from the supply of goods provided by the community.
His major contributions to the realm of ideas have been to this developing trend of anarcho-Marxism. It is a trend that has not been present amongst the radical left in a coherent form for a long time, though libertarian Marxism takes similar positions on many issues as anarchism.
Many Leninists and less-libertarian Marxists consider this unrealistic, as they counter that without an established leadership, no such society could last. Coordination between collectives would become very difficult and the inevitable conflicts that would arise would be difficult to overcome without hierarchy and defined leadership.
On the economy, he believes in democratic worker's control in the workplaces and a gift economy heavily grounded in smart card technology and the internet for statistical data. He believes with such smart-cards, it is possible to see and control trends in the consumption and production habits of the general population without the need for rigid quotas that stifle individuality.
For many, this system of computer-enforced economic organization is easily corruptible and unreliable. It is precisely his belief in the development of technology to a sufficient level to achieve this that leads to the criticism that he is Utopian and un-Marxist.
As for religion, he believes that in an anarcho-Communist revolution, as in the Spanish Civil War, the people will turn against religion as the guardian of the status-quo. He encourages the idea that churches, mosques, synagogues and other denominational structures should in some cases be demolished, as "propaganda in stone," and converted into public places such as parks; and in other cases where the building is modern and not overtly grand to be converted into a place of gathering by removing religious symbolism. He also believes that preaching publicly or attempting to indoctrinate children should be punished by the community, especially in the case of parental indoctrination.
These ideas on religion are some of his most controversial in the eyes of more moderate leftists as well as supporters of capitalism, who see a contradiction between his beliefs on the state and his views on religion as extremist.
Criticism
He has been criticized for his "heavy-handed theoretical approach" and "dogmatism". Some believe him to be "egotistical" and "self-centered" and many on the right consider him stuck in an "outdated mode of thinking". Moderate leftists disagree with his analyses and rejection of electoral politics and religion. Proponents of the Leninist paradigm label him as an "anarchist" using his experience and respect amongst the leftist community to spread ideas. His supporters see his theories as an effort to move forward into the next century, combining what has worked with components that address the world as it is today.
It has also been pointed that his ideas assumed a linear development of capitalism, that is to say that Third World countries are in the initial stages of capitalism, and will with time, necessarily become developed countries. Some critics have argued such an analysis is dismissive of the massive impacts suffered by the Third World in its contact with the central capitalist countries.
Even though there are those who have criticized some of his theories, he has been given credit for being a beacon of information and mentor to countless young leftists. His work on topics such as "The High School Commie Guide" has influenced thousands of young people. He receives letters of gratitude from those who have been influenced from all over the world.
Web contributions
*His website, Redstar2000 Papers, was started in 2003 after requests from many youth to document and collect his thoughts.
*A founding member and retired administrator of the online RevLeft.com community, with over 128,000 members.
*A contributor to the RCP's Another World is Possible boards. He was a moderator until September 2004.
*A contributor to Libcom.org.
Shift Theory is a technical analysis ratio indicator that studies how entire bars on a bar chart shift to change the direction of a trend or price. The theory was originally developed by David Zielinski and it is based on empirical evidence from watching how bars on a chart shift and affect price changes.
Observations
Shift theory ratios are based on the following observations:
* Consolidating chart patterns usually have a high percentage of bars overlapping each other.
* Up trending charts have higher highs and higher lows.
* Down trending charts typically have lower lows and lower highs.
The Shift Theory approach focuses on breaking down each component of a trend and giving each a value that is specific to that measurement.
Average True Range Issue and Shift Theory
Shift Theory takes into account the Average True Range of a bar chart and how it affects technical analysis. In Shift Theory the Average True Range is considered the natural average range that an instrument movers during a particular period and that information needs to be filtered. This range is a form of statically analysis created by the auction or the price discovery process. Because of this natural buying and selling cycle that happens within this range of each bar. Shift Theory does not include the closing price in the calculation because of the large amounts of random data that are produced on each bar. The closing price is always moving and any calculations that are based on that data will always be random.
Calculations
Shift Ratios are a combination of an average based calculation converted into an oscillator based plot output on a scale of 0 to 100. When a ratio is at 0 then that indicates that the particular trend, it measures do not exist at that moment. Any measurement above 0 is an indication that shows that particular part of a trend it measures is present.
Inside Shift Ratio
The Inside Shift Ratios are the percentage of the current bar overlapping the previous bar. Shift Theory believes that if bars overlap a higher percentage of the time than the market is consolidating and that increases the Inside Shift Ratio reading. A reading of 0 would indicate that the current bar does not have any overlap over the previous bar. A reading of 100 would indicate the current bar is overlapping 100 percent of the previous bar. The Inside Shift Ratio is color coded yellow to represent caution or to slow down like a street light system.
Upper Shift Ratio
The Upper Shift Ratio is based on the difference between the current bars, high minus the previous bars high. In Shift Theory an uptrend is defined by bars making new highs compared to the previous bar. The Upper Shift Ratio is color coded green to represent rising bars or buying activity.
Lower Shift Ratio
The Lower Shift Ratio is based on the difference of the previous bars low minus the current bars low. In Shift Theory a downtrend is defined by bars making lower lows. The Lower Shift Ratio is color coded red to represent falling bars or selling activity.
Reference Points
BaseLine
The BaseLine is a reference point that is set by the user that can be any fixed number between 0 to 100 but the proper point it is designed for is between 1 to 5. What the BaseLine does is set a reference value so that the Upper or Lower Shift Ratios can be compared to. It is the point that if a ratio crosses over then the trend is breaking out of its base.
TrendPoint
The TrendPoint serves as another reference point that is set by the user. It is used to identify choppy conditions and as an overbought or sold level to identify reversals.
Analysis Interpretation
Uptrends
Uptrend’s are defined by the Upper Shift Ratio crossing above or being above the BaseLine. For this indication to happen the current bar needs to be making a new high. Along with a rising Upper Shift Ratio the Lower Shift Ratio should be falling or at a value of 0. According to Shift Theory an uptrend is defined by a series of higher highs and higher lows.
Downtrends
Downtrends are defined by the Lower Shift Ratio crossing above the BaseLine or this ratio being above the BaseLine. At the same time the Upper Shift Ratio should be falling or at 0. In Shift Theory a down trend is defined by a series of lower lows a lower highs.
Choppy Conditions
Choppy conditions are defined mainly by the Inside Shift Ratio being above the TrendPoint. At the same time the Upper and Lower Shift Ratios should be at the lower end of the scale indicating bars are consolidating.
Reversals
Reversals happen in Shift Theory when either the Upper or Lower Shift Ratio crosses above the TrendPoint and then cross back under or has an extremely high reading. At the same time if the trend was strong enough then the ratio that measures the opposite trend will cross above the BaseLine at the giving confirmation to the reversal.
Observations
Shift theory ratios are based on the following observations:
* Consolidating chart patterns usually have a high percentage of bars overlapping each other.
* Up trending charts have higher highs and higher lows.
* Down trending charts typically have lower lows and lower highs.
The Shift Theory approach focuses on breaking down each component of a trend and giving each a value that is specific to that measurement.
Average True Range Issue and Shift Theory
Shift Theory takes into account the Average True Range of a bar chart and how it affects technical analysis. In Shift Theory the Average True Range is considered the natural average range that an instrument movers during a particular period and that information needs to be filtered. This range is a form of statically analysis created by the auction or the price discovery process. Because of this natural buying and selling cycle that happens within this range of each bar. Shift Theory does not include the closing price in the calculation because of the large amounts of random data that are produced on each bar. The closing price is always moving and any calculations that are based on that data will always be random.
Calculations
Shift Ratios are a combination of an average based calculation converted into an oscillator based plot output on a scale of 0 to 100. When a ratio is at 0 then that indicates that the particular trend, it measures do not exist at that moment. Any measurement above 0 is an indication that shows that particular part of a trend it measures is present.
Inside Shift Ratio
The Inside Shift Ratios are the percentage of the current bar overlapping the previous bar. Shift Theory believes that if bars overlap a higher percentage of the time than the market is consolidating and that increases the Inside Shift Ratio reading. A reading of 0 would indicate that the current bar does not have any overlap over the previous bar. A reading of 100 would indicate the current bar is overlapping 100 percent of the previous bar. The Inside Shift Ratio is color coded yellow to represent caution or to slow down like a street light system.
Upper Shift Ratio
The Upper Shift Ratio is based on the difference between the current bars, high minus the previous bars high. In Shift Theory an uptrend is defined by bars making new highs compared to the previous bar. The Upper Shift Ratio is color coded green to represent rising bars or buying activity.
Lower Shift Ratio
The Lower Shift Ratio is based on the difference of the previous bars low minus the current bars low. In Shift Theory a downtrend is defined by bars making lower lows. The Lower Shift Ratio is color coded red to represent falling bars or selling activity.
Reference Points
BaseLine
The BaseLine is a reference point that is set by the user that can be any fixed number between 0 to 100 but the proper point it is designed for is between 1 to 5. What the BaseLine does is set a reference value so that the Upper or Lower Shift Ratios can be compared to. It is the point that if a ratio crosses over then the trend is breaking out of its base.
TrendPoint
The TrendPoint serves as another reference point that is set by the user. It is used to identify choppy conditions and as an overbought or sold level to identify reversals.
Analysis Interpretation
Uptrends
Uptrend’s are defined by the Upper Shift Ratio crossing above or being above the BaseLine. For this indication to happen the current bar needs to be making a new high. Along with a rising Upper Shift Ratio the Lower Shift Ratio should be falling or at a value of 0. According to Shift Theory an uptrend is defined by a series of higher highs and higher lows.
Downtrends
Downtrends are defined by the Lower Shift Ratio crossing above the BaseLine or this ratio being above the BaseLine. At the same time the Upper Shift Ratio should be falling or at 0. In Shift Theory a down trend is defined by a series of lower lows a lower highs.
Choppy Conditions
Choppy conditions are defined mainly by the Inside Shift Ratio being above the TrendPoint. At the same time the Upper and Lower Shift Ratios should be at the lower end of the scale indicating bars are consolidating.
Reversals
Reversals happen in Shift Theory when either the Upper or Lower Shift Ratio crosses above the TrendPoint and then cross back under or has an extremely high reading. At the same time if the trend was strong enough then the ratio that measures the opposite trend will cross above the BaseLine at the giving confirmation to the reversal.
LingQ is a Vancouver, Canada-based language learning website that focuses on language learning through structured reading, rather than grammar instruction. LingQ styles itself as a mutual-help, Web 2.0 learning community.
Central concept
The basic idea of LingQ is marking new words in the way user could notice them right away in all further texts he reads ("yellow words"). After some time with the service the user is also going to see what words have never appeared in the older texts he read ("blue words"). Once the user considers he got through the text marking new words, all the blue words become unmarked, so that they are just going to be a non-distracting ground-color in further texts.
Texts may either be imported by the user himself, so that virtually any text may be used as a kind of a leveled reader; or taken from the project's library. All texts ("lessons") in the library are followed by audio and vary from language courses to belles lettres. Users may share their own lessons to the library.
Other services
The company also offers a platform for users to tutor each other via Skype
Analogues
The Open Source clones of this service include LWT (Learning With Texts) and FLTR (Foreign Language Text Reader). The initialism "LWT" is filtered on the LingQ forum. Lingualeo is similar proprietory online-software popular in Russia and, as of July 2014, also targeted at Brazilian and Turkish markets.
Central concept
The basic idea of LingQ is marking new words in the way user could notice them right away in all further texts he reads ("yellow words"). After some time with the service the user is also going to see what words have never appeared in the older texts he read ("blue words"). Once the user considers he got through the text marking new words, all the blue words become unmarked, so that they are just going to be a non-distracting ground-color in further texts.
Texts may either be imported by the user himself, so that virtually any text may be used as a kind of a leveled reader; or taken from the project's library. All texts ("lessons") in the library are followed by audio and vary from language courses to belles lettres. Users may share their own lessons to the library.
Other services
The company also offers a platform for users to tutor each other via Skype
Analogues
The Open Source clones of this service include LWT (Learning With Texts) and FLTR (Foreign Language Text Reader). The initialism "LWT" is filtered on the LingQ forum. Lingualeo is similar proprietory online-software popular in Russia and, as of July 2014, also targeted at Brazilian and Turkish markets.
Cryptonator is a cryptocurrency exchange rates calculator and conversion tool, which allows calculating price of a selected cryptocurrency in other cryptocurrency, or in US Dollar, Euro and other fiat money. The service was introduced in February 2014 and currently available online, for iPhone and iPad and as an extension for Chrome browser. User interface supports six languages, including English, German, Spanish, Russian, French and Chinese.
Founded by German company Mediapro UG in January 2014, Cryptonator currently based in Munich, Germany.
Calculation algorithm
Calculations are based on the actual trading information, which Cryptonator gets from cryptocurrency online exchanges via their API. Information includes daily trading volumes, ask and bid prices. Calculation algorithm uses volume-weighted average approach and, as of May 2014, supports over 300 cryptocurrencies.
Founded by German company Mediapro UG in January 2014, Cryptonator currently based in Munich, Germany.
Calculation algorithm
Calculations are based on the actual trading information, which Cryptonator gets from cryptocurrency online exchanges via their API. Information includes daily trading volumes, ask and bid prices. Calculation algorithm uses volume-weighted average approach and, as of May 2014, supports over 300 cryptocurrencies.