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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Introduction
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was created by the Gracie family.  This martial art is based on Judo and it involves a lot of ground fighting.  The focus of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is grappling and it is also a sport.  You will be able to take down someone stronger than you by learning this martial art.  There is a lot of chokes, foot, and joint locks.
History
There was a great Judo practitioner named Mitsuyo Maeda.  He fought many different types of martial arts and was undefeated.  When he got tired of fighting he moved to Brazil.  He created a dojo there.  He taught the Gracie brothers.  The Gracie brothers created Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from what they learned from Mitsuyo Maeda.  The Rorion Gracie created the UFC.
Sport         
The sports of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was organized in 1967.  The Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara was founded that year.  The founders of that organization created rules for the sport.  In 1980 this sport became international.  This sport is on every continent!
Techniques
One technique is escaping half guard.  You rock left and right then put your knees on their stomach.  Once you do that you can escape.  The Scissor Sweep is when someone grabs their opponent arm and turn them over with your legs around their waist.  This is done on the back.  The Triangle Choke is when you choke somebody with your legs, while on your back.  There are many other cool techniques.
 Conclusion
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great sport, self-defense, and martial arts.  It is the best martial art to use in the MMA. This martial arts can teach you great discipline.  If I was an MMA fighter I would learn BJJ, because it has great ground game.  It can help a short person defeat a large person and it's Brazilian!  
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu
http://www.shenwu.com/bjjhistory.html
http://sjjif.com/
http://www.grapplearts.com/the-16-most-important-techniques-for-the-bjj-beginner/

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Biology

Introduction
Biology means the study of life.  Biologists study various organisms.  Biology has a long history.  Artistole is the first biologist I know of.  There are categories that show the relationship between organisms.  Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species are the categories.  There are 5 kingdoms.  Biology has many subtypes.  It is a sweet science.
History
Alcmaeon was the first person to dissect humans.  He was looking for the organ of intelligence.  He discovered the optic nerves and eustachian tubes.  Aristotle was the first European taxonomist.  He learned about animals in the sea.  Theophrastus studied planets and wrote books about it.  William Harvey did a lot of dissections on animals.  He found out a lot about the heart and wrote a book about it.  The rest is history.
5 Kingdoms
Bacteria- They're a type of single-celled organisms that have a cell wall.  They lack organelles.  They live everywhere and they may be the oldest lifeforms on earth.  They reproduce asexually.

Protist- They're a type of single-celled organisms and they have organelles.  This is the most diverse kingdom.  They are similar to all the other kingdoms.  This is my favorite kingdom.  They mostly reproduce asexually; a few of them screw.

Fungus- Some are single-celled, others are multicelled organisms.  They feed off dying plant material. Some reproduce by sexual reproduction.  Depending on species.

Plants- They are a type of multicelled organism.  They eat sunlight, drink water, and breathe carbon dioxide.  They are food for animals and fungi.  They all reproduce by sexual reproduction. 

Animals- Are a type of multicelled organisms.  They all move around unlike plants.  This is the kingdom humans are part of.  They have most complex consciousness.  They all reproduce by sexual reproduction.  
Subtypes
Microbiology: The study of microorganisms (bacterium, protists, fungi).
Zoology: The study of animals.
Botany: The study of plants.
Mycology: Study of fungi.
Evolutionary Biology: The study of how organism evolves.
Astrobiology: The study of extraterrestrial organisms.
Chronobiology: The study of how time affects organisms.
Embryology: The study of embryos.
Immunology: The study of the immune system.
Parasitology: The study of parasites.
Conclusion
Biology can teach you a lot about yourself and the world around you.  It is a great science.  It can help us improve.  It is amazing.
References
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac22
http://science.jrank.org/pages/8467/Biology-Origins-Biology.html
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/studies/invertebrates/kingdoms.html
http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal
https://www.britannica.com/science/protist/Reproduction-and-life-cycles
https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/fungi-24/characteristics-of-fungi-149/fungi-reproduction-591-11810/
http://www.macroevolution.net/branches-of-biology.html

Monday, July 4, 2016

Objectivism

Introduction
Objectivism was created by Ayn Rand.  It has metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political theory.  Ayn Rand wrote several books.  Her most popular books We the Living, Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. They contained her philosophy.  A lot of Libertarians follow objectivist ideas.
Breakdown of Objectivism
The metaphysics of this philosophy is that objective reality is absolute.  Everything that exists has traits. Consciousness is the ability to perceive reality.  Epistemology (origin of knowledge) is human reason.  We obtain knowledge by observation, deductive reasoning,  inductive reasoning, and concept formation.  Ethics is rational self-interest.  Everyone should focus on their own happiness.  They shouldn't obtain happiness by using others.  We all choose our own values.  We can be conscious beings or stimulus-response mechanism. We all can think or not.  Thinking helps us create our life.  If we decide not to think; we become mere animals.  Political Theory is laissez-faire capitalism.  The government should be separate from the economy and religion.  Inalienable rights are very important in a capitalist society.
Ayn Rand
She was born 2/2/1905 in Russia.  She changed it to Ayn Rand.  She debated her friend at school over the best type of government for Russia.  Ayn Rand wanted the country to be a republic and Olga Nabokov wanted a constitutional monarchy.  After the Bolsheviks took over Russia her father lost his business and the family had to relocate.  Later on, they were able to live in St. Petersburg again.  But life was tough.  In high school, she became an atheist and decide reason was the greatest human quality.  She studied philosophy and majored in history in college.  She came to the US in 1926.  She became a screenwriter than she wrote novels that explained her philosophy.  Later in life, she gave lectures at universities.
Books
We the Living was her first novel.  It explained the evils of communism.  She saw it first hand in Russia.  The main character of this book wanted the freedom of chose.  Her family and Soviet Russia tried to control her. She met a man like her.  He also wanted freedom of chose.  She got shot when tried to cross the border for freedom.
Her second novel is The Fountainhead.  The main character in this book is Howard Roark.  He is an individualist.  The other characters are collectivists.  Howard was an architect.  He designed a building in his own style.  He had his own values and a healthy ego.  Peter Keating ego was too small.  He only became an architect because his mom wanted him too.  He was unhappy with his career.  He even killed an old man so he could advance his career.  Dominique Francon became Howard girlfriend.  She had a lot of the same values as Howard.  Gail Wynand was a wealthy newspaper owner.  He wanted to control people, which caused him to lose everything.  Ellsworth Toohey was the opposite of Howard Roark.  He wanted to control even more people.  He made people and accomplishments seem equal.  Of course, this is not true.
Her final novel is Atlas Shrugged.  This book shows what the US will be like if it were a communist.  The richest people would leave and everybody else would become slaves to the government.  This book promotes objectivism.  People should concern themselves with their own happiness.  Having private property is very important.
At first, Ayn books were unpopular, then they became very popular.

Ayn influence on Libertarianism

Ayn Rand is one of the most important women to libertarianism.  Ayn shows the beauty of laissez-faire capitalism.  An idea most libertarians agree with.  Objectivism promotes freedom just like libertarianism.  Objectivism is a philosophy that had a big impact on modern-day libertarianism.  Libertarianism is a broad political persuasion whose main idea is liberty.
Conclusion
Objectivism is a sweet philosophy.  I think it is a good philosophy for the government to follow.  I agree with most of it, but it a little incomplete.  Knowledge doesn't only come from reason it also comes from intuition. The subjective reality is absolute because objectivity is only subjective consensus.  What we call reality is based on our sensory perception.  Since humans, all have similar sensory perception; we tend to experience the same reality.  Objective reality is what we all perceive.  So it seems like objective reality is absolute, but it isn't literally true.  It is just our persistent illusion.  Let's pretend it's real.
References
campus.aynrand.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism_(Ayn_Rand)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountainhead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_the_Living
http://atlassociety.org/commentary/commentary-blog/3789-libertarianism-and-objectivism-compatible

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Kemetic Astrology

Amen is Aries.  This is the sign of persistence, it is ruled by Mars.

Het Heru is Taurus.  This is the sign of building, it is ruled by Venus.

Shu and Tefnut are Gemini.  They are the thinkers, it is ruled by Mercury.

Kheper is Cancer.  This the sign of emotion.  It is ruled by the Moon.

Sekhmet is Leo.  It is the executor.  It is ruled by the Sun.

Aset is Virgo.  It analyzes and is ruled by Mercury.

Maat is Libra.  It balances and is ruled by Venus.  

Serkhet is Scorpio.  It desires and is ruled by Mars.

Neith is Sagittarius.  It sees and is ruled by Jupiter.

Herishef is Capricorn.  It fertilizes and is ruled by Saturn.

Hapi is Aquarius.  It knows and is ruled by Saturn.

Hat Mehyt is Pisces. I believe and I'm ruled by Neptune.

If you want to know about the planets click here.    
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f59kr9t99U
http://www.astrologyoftheancients.com/egyptian-astrology/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_astronomy#Ancient_Egypt
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/zodiac.htm

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Chronology of China

0.  There were many prehistoric cultures in China.  The Peligang culture was from 7000 BCE to 5000 BCE. People in this society had a lot of sovereignty.  They ate millet and herded pigs, cows, and chickens.  They fished and hunted.  Cishan culture was created around 6500 BCE.  They farmed rice and millet.  They were hunters and fisherman.  The Xinglongwa culture lasted from 6200-5400 BCE.  They created pottery, first to use jade, and farmed.  The people lived in pit houses.  The Hemudu culture started 5500 BCE.  They lived in slit houses.  The ate rice and were hunters.  They ate fruit and vegetables.  They started out matriarchal, then they became patriarchal.  Hemudu culture may be the origin of Austronesian people!   The Yangshao culture started 5000 BCE.  It ended 3000 BCE.  They had pigs and dogs.  They ate millet and rice.  The society may have been matriarchal.  Hongshan culture was from 4700-2900BCE.  They made dragon statues out of jade and copper rings.  They had an underground goddess temple.  They did Feng Shui.  Some of the people of this culture may have become Koreans.  Liangzhu culture was from 3400-2250 BCE.  The society was very stratified.  Upper-class people were buried with expensive artifacts.  This culture may be ancestral to Austronesians as well.  The society was mostly destroyed by a meteorite impact.  They were land and sea farmers.  There was a capital city for this culture.  It had clay walls and 6 city gates.  Diamond tools were used by this society.  They had a fondness for jade and sapphire.  Slaves were sacrificed to their deities.  The Longshan culture was from 3000-1900 BCE.  They were farmers that also ate pigs, sheep, goats, and dogs.  They made silk from the silkworm.  Animal bones were used for divination and they were into human sacrifice. They may have had a language.  The Liangzhu, Hongshan, and Longshan are my favorite cultures because they are the sophisticated.  This was just a sampling, there are many more prehistoric ancient Chinese cultures.  A lot of the great ideas of dynastic China have their origin in these prehistoric cultures.
1.  Xia dynasty was the first dynasty of China.  It lasted from 2070 to 1600 BCE.  The Yellow Emperor was the first king to introduced civilization to the Chinese.  Yu the Great was the first king of the Xia Dynasty.   He was able to stop the Yellow River from flooding b4 he became king.
2.  The Xia dynasty was overthrown by the Shang Dynasty.  A written language was created during the Shang Dynasty.  Chinese people were polytheistic at this time.  Shangti was the most high god of their religion.  He was called the Great Ancestor.  He was too far removed from human experience to be approached.  He had many children, which the Chinese worshiped.  They believed ancestral spirits would help them in times of need.  A calendar was invented during this time and it was very accurate.  They also had a lunar and solar calendar, which was combined.
3. The Shang Dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty.  King Wu started the Zhou Dynasty after his forces defeated the Shang army.  This was the longest dynasty in China.  It lasted over 800 years!!!!  Kings of the Zhou Dynasty believed in the Mandate of Heaven.  Kings were selected by God.  As long as they rule justly they would have the Mandate of Heaven.  When they became unjust they the mandate was taken from them.  Then they would be overthrown.  That's what they believed.  Written language improved during this time.  There many Chinese scholars during the Zhou Dynasty.  There was a period in Chinese history called 100 Schools of Thought.  There were many different philosophies during this time.  There was a great philosopher named Mozi (click here) and a great religious leader named Laozi (click here).  This was the time the Greeks were philosophizing.  Different states under the Zhou asserted their sovereignty and fought each other.  A famous strategy book was written at this time called Art of War.  The Qin state defeated the other states because it didn't follow the rules of war.  They won by any means necessary.  The other states followed something like Bushido.
4.  The Qin Dynasty succeed the Zhou Dynasty by conquering all the states.  It only lasted 15 years from 221-206 BCE.  Shi Huangdi was the first king of the Qin Dynasty.  He made travel easier, which increased trade.  The Great Wall started to be built during his reign.  He believed in legalism.  It was a philosophy that promoted severe punishment for crime.  All other philosophies were suppressed.  Scholars were buried alive and a library was burned down.
5.  After the Qin Dynasty fell China was split into 2 nations.  Chu and Han.  The leaders of these were friends, but later on became enemies.  The Han army defeated the Chu army and took over.  The Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220CE) was established at this time.  Liu-Bang founded this dynasty.  He promoted Confucianism.  The dynasty lasted for 400 years.  China became peaceful again.  New technology was created during this time.  The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine was written during this time.  Schools that taught Confucianism were created during this period.  The Silk Road was created in 130 BCE.  Romans loved silk.  After the Han Dynasty fell; 4 kingdoms were created.  This period was from 208-618 CE.
6. Sui Dynasty (589-618 CE) united China and reestablished order.  They created the best government China ever known.  Coins were created during this time.  The Great Wall was still being built.  China had the largest army at this time.
7.  The Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) succeed the Sui Dynasty.  The governmental structure remained the same as b4.  The first Tang ruler was killed by his son.  The son wiped out the royal family and became king. He was loved by the populace because he governed well.  China was trading with Byzantine at this time. China became the strongest country in the world at this time!!!!!!!!  It had the biggest army and population. Chinese Buddhists were going to India to learn more about Buddism during this dynasty.  Different regions revolted against the Tang Dynasty.  This led to the death of over 30 million Chinese people.  After the Tang Dynasty fell, China was broken up into warring kingdoms (907-960 CE).
8. The Sung Dynasty (960-1279) came to power and created a golden age.  A lot of technology was created during this period.  Fait currency was used for the first time in world history.  They also created a navy, and they promoted Neo-Confucianism.  They did a lot of maritime trade. Chinese sailors met a lot of different ethnic groups.  There were 2 cities on the coast of China that housed many foreigners.  The Song Dynasty lost control of Northern China to the Jin Dynasty in the 12th century.  The Song retreated south and developed a new military technology. They were the first dynasty to use gunpowder. The Jin Dynasty was conquered by the Mongols.
9.  1276 is when Mongols conquered the Song Dynasty.  The Mongols ruled China until 1368 CE.  The Mongol dynasty was called Yuan Dynasty.  The Mongols promoted Chinese science, literature, and other forms of culture.  They embraced the Chinese culture while retaining their own.  There were many different religions in China at this time and they all got along.  New food crops were introduced.  There was drama became important.  There were many plays in China.  There was a lot of advancement in medicine and printing.  The Mongols of China loved Tibetian Buddism and Confucianism.
10.  The Ming Dynasty started 1368 and lasted for almost 300 years.  To become a government official you had to pass an exam.  The emperor handled governmental affairs directly.  The office of prime minister was abolished.  There was a lot of fighting with the Mongols during this time.  China had conflicts with Japan over Korea.
11.  The Qing Dynasty(1644-1912 CE) was created by Jurchen Aisin Gioro.  He was a Manchurian.  This was the last dynasty of China.  There were many rebellions during this time.  China traded tea for silver with Britain.  The Britsh ran out of silver.  To get it back they got the Chinese addicted to opium.  China was defeated by European nations and Japan.
12. The Republic of China (1912-1949) was created by Sun Yat-sen.  The Republic had to fight warlords and Japan several times.  They had a constitution.  They were friends to the Communists in the beginning then they turned on them.  Traditional Chinese Medicine was created @ this time.  Classical Chinese Medicine was popular b4 TCM.  
13.  Communists took over China after a civil war.  They came to power in 1949 and have ruled ever since. They killed millions of Chinese people and took over Tibet.  The communists don't allow other political parties to challenge their rule.  They modernized China, but if the Republic was still in power they probably would have modernized China too.  China has the biggest population in the world!!!!!!!!!  The Chinese are sweet people.                                                          
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Neolithic_cultures_of_China
http://www.china.org.cn/english/China/217746.htm
http://www.ancient.eu/china/
http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/Chinese_Calendar.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_dynasty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_dynasty
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ming-dynasty-Chinese-history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_dynasty
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/main_pop/kpct/kp_imperialism.htm

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Astronomy

Introduction
Astronomy is the study of celestial objects.  Astronomers study galaxies, stars, planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, comets, etc.  They use many tools to study the objects of outer space.  There are a lot of astronomical organizations in the world.  The most popular is NASA. There is a sweet organization in Russia that is similar to NASA.  The Europeans, Chinese, and Japanese have sweet ones too.
History
Astronomy grew out of astrology.  People were very subjective and religious in the past.  Later on, they became more objective and scientific.  In ancient times many people made calendars based on the movement of celestial objects.  The Kemetians built pyramids that aligned with Orion's Belt.  The Babylonians, Indians, and Chinese had star catalogs.  Indians, Chinese, and Mayan astronomers were able to predict eclipses. The ancient Greeks contributed a lot to astronomy.  Mayans were able to track the stars of the Pleiades.  Muslims contributed a lot to astronomy.  Europeans learned astronomy from the Muslims kept improving it. Some people knew the earth went around the sun.  Other people thought the sun went around the earth.
Celestial Objects
Galaxies are islands of dust and gas.  They contain solar systems (planets orbiting stars), black holes, asteroids, moons, dark matter, dark energy, and so much more.  The galaxy our solar system is in is called the Milky Way.  Galaxies come from alpha blobs.  Galaxies change shape as they get older.  Irregular galaxies are young, spiral galaxies are middle age, and elliptical galaxies are old.  You tell the age of a galaxy by the age of its stars.  Irregular galaxies have more hot blue stars (young); elliptical galaxies have more cold red stars (old).  There are billions of galaxies, maybe more than we can count.  Stars are light emitters. They are made out of plasma (ionic gas).  The shape of a star is a sphere.  Stars come from nebulas.  A nebula is created when a supermassive star explodes.  An explosion of a supermassive star is called a supernova. The hottest stars are blue and the coldest stars are red.  There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on a beach.  Our sun is 4.5 billion years old!  It is middle age. Billions of years from now the sun will become 100 times its size and consume the earth.  Then it will shrink and cool off.  The sun is a main sequence star, and so are many others.  There are also a lot of stars that aren't the main sequence.  Black holes are stars that collapsed on themselves.  It's like digging hole going inside and pulling it out.  Black holes may be green!!!!  If anything gets past the event horizon than it gets sucked up by the black hole.  Planets are star babies.  All the planets in our solar system came from the sun.  Venus may have come from somewhere else.  Planets have atmospheres.  Planets orbit the sun.  Astronomers discovered almost 2000 exoplanets.  That is so amazing.  A lot of them are like earth.  Moons are mostly spherical objects that orbit the planets.  Some moons are a lot like planets.  Titan is a good example.  It is one of Saturn's moons, but it has an atmosphere like earth.  It even has methane lakes!  Asteroids are giant space rocks.  They may have been parts of a planet that blow up.  Meteors are pieces of asteroids.  Comets are dirty snowballs (sort of).
                                      
Tools
Astronomers use telescopes to see celestial objects.  Some people can see stars with their naked eye (Dogon), but most people can't.  Satellites and radio dishes are used to see space stuff as while. Astronomers have tools that can detect EM waves our eyes can't even see!
Astronomical Organization
NASA studies celestial objects for the US.  Some people that work at NASA are astronauts.  Astronauts go into space shuttles that fly into outer space.  Outer space has no gravity, so when you get there you will be floating around.  There is a space station out there.  Astronauts from around the world go to the space station and do experiments.  It was discovered that waterbears are the only animals that can survive in outer space.  Russian astronauts are known as cosmonauts.  The Russians know a lot about astronomy and many other sciences.  The Europeans, Chinese, and Japanese know a bunch too.
Conclusion
Astronomy is my other favorite science.  It may be even better than physics!!!  I loved astronomy since I was 7.  Everyone should learn Astronomy because it's wonderful!!!!!  Oh yeah, aliens are real.  I'm one of them.                        
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_astronomy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy
http://astronomyonline.org/Science/Equipment.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_exoplanets

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Freemasonry

Introduction
Freemasonry started centuries ago in England.  It then spread to France and Germany. Stonemasons formed guilds which became the basis of Freemasonry.   There were 2 kinds of masons.  They are operative masons (OMs) and speculative masons (SMs).  There is a certain way to become a free mason.  You will get many benefits from being a mason.  The ones at the bottom are hoodwinked.  They have their own beliefs, rituals and symbols.  There are lodges, grand lodges and Ur lodges.  There are many masonic rites and afflicted organizations.  Most masons are regular, but sum are irregular.  They have great influence on government and law enforcement.   The rank and file Masons are similar to everyone else, but a lot of the ones at the top are pure evil.   If a mason reveals the secrets that may get murdered like George G.M. James.  
OMs
They were stone builders that built castle and cathedrals in Europe.  Eventually, they created guilds.  The guilds were created to help stonemasons that were injured on the job.  These guilds became lodges and attracted lay men.  Those lay men became speculative masons.   
SMs 
These men weren't stonemasons, but they used the ideas and tools of them.  They took knowledge from the OMs and made it metaphorical.  That help them improve their morality and intellect.  Most free-masons today are speculative.      
History
Freemasonry ancient origins are the Kemetic mystery schools.  These mystery schools (spiritual colleges) were temples called the House of Life.  People were taught magic, science, geometry, math, history, 7 liberal arts, etc.  Most people that went there became priests.  Mystery schools existed around the world and some still do.  The original purpose of these cults was to help a person be all they can be.  You learn a bunch then apply it correctly. You use what you learn to improve yourself and society.  Mystery schools were wonderful, but some of them became corrupt.  Some of the priests use their knowledge to manipulate people.  The word freemason comes from phre messen which mean child of light. The Moors had a lot to do with the creation of modern-day Freemasonry.  Knights Templars influenced Freemasonry.  The founding fathers were freemasons. Freemasons have instigated certain revolutions worldwide.  Freemasonry may have been infected by the Bavarian Illuminati. Look at Albert Churchward to learn about the ancient origins of the Freemasonry. Freemasonry has a big influence in the rap industry and gangs.            
Becoming a Freemason
You go 2 the lodge you want 2 join and ask 4 a petition.  After you fill it out, it is read to the members @ the next meeting.  Then a committee meets you and reports their finds @ the next meeting.  They may do a background check on you to see if you're criminal.  If so, they'll probably boot you. Once you pass the petition, committee and the background check; they'll vote on you.  White cubes 4 yes and black balls 4 no.  If you get one black ball, you booted.  Joining the freemasonry can help you in many ways.  But the downside is, it may be watered down Satanism.  Try it out and let me know what you find.  
Benefits
They take care of a members orphans and elderly masons as well.  Sick members get visits from their brothers(masons).  Sometimes, family of deceased members receive $ from the brothers.  They give blood to blood banks, periodically.  There is a relief board that helps masons and their relatives when they are in need.  There is a lot of friendship within the lodge.  You get a higher position when you join the military or police, if you a Freemason.          
Hoodwink
The word means to blindfold and deceive.  Masons @ the lower degrees are lied too.  They found out more of the truth of freemasonry as they level up.  After a mason is hoodwinked, they have to take an oath that they would rather kill themselves than divulge the secrets.  Most masons are in the dark and they think they've seen the light.  
This vid as a Christian bend, which I don't support.  But it's still informative.  

Beliefs
They believe in the grand architect of the universe.  That's Ptah, he's a Kemetic creator deity. There is a Masonic demon called Jabulon.  It is a combination of Jehovah, Baal, and Osiris. Lucifer is the god of Freemasonry, so says Albert Pike. You can follow any religion and be a Mason as long as you believe in a supreme being.  The G in the compass stands for generation.  Freemasonry is a sex cult among other things. There are many good freemasons. I believe the majority are good people.  People in the blue degrees are taught good character, honesty, etc.  Men learn how to be better men in the freemasonry.  That's only the beginning. As you progress in the Freemasonry, you may become more sinister.  A lot of the leadership of the freemasonry is evil.  There are many rapists, pedophiles, and murders in the freemasonry.  In certain lodges, you can feel that energy.  By being in certain lodges you may become corrupt.  The inverse is probably true as well.  Freemasonry has a lot of Kemetic and Jewish symbolism.  They call commoners profane.  They think they are better than non-masons.  I am superior to this cult and any other.  Boaz and Jachin are the Yin and Yang of the Freemasonry.  Solomon Temple represents the human body. They believe Hiram Abiff was the architect of Solomon Temple.  Masons believe in magic rings.              
Rituals
When someone joins the blue lodge they go through a ritual, where they pretend to Hiram Abiff.  Someone hits the neophyte in the head with a gavel.  They die, put in a coffin, then they resurrect.  The first degree you will say my tongue will be cut out if I divulge the secrets.  2nd-degree throat slit.  3rd-degree disembowel. This is just the beginning.  You may have to dress up like a woman and act like one to be a Shriner.  Shaq did this and I saw men do this on Utube. Some lodges may have homosexual rituals.  Skull and Bones which is based on German freemasonry are one of them.  When some people reach the 33rd degree (Scottish Rite) they sell their soul to Lucifer.  A white light enters their brain and they get superpowers.  Their lives become controlled by Lucifer.  Sometimes they may sacrifice people or animals. Some lodges are connected to satanic cults and other sinister groups. There are many other rituals.  Sometimes some of them spit on a cross. 
Symbols
All Seeing Eye: God sees all thoughts, emotions and actions of humans and everything else.
Square & Compass: It comes from the stonemason guilds.  The square represents the golden rule.  "Treat others how you want to be treated."  The compass represents self control.  
Cable Tow: This also come from stonemason guilds.  It was used 4 pulling heavy objects.  It represents how far a mason will go to fulfill their duties.   
Gavel: It was used by OMs to shape stone.  For SMs it means to be free of vices and of a pure heart.
Apron: It made out of lambskin and it represents cleanliness.    
Shoe: It's called the blue slipper and it has more than one meaning.  In the 1st degree it represents agreeing 2 a contract.  In the 3rd degree represents being in a holy place.   
Beehive: It represents cohesion for a common cause and Masonic work. 
Coffin: It symbolizes death; a Mason must die to their old life, so they can be reborn in the new one.   
Double Headed Eagle: It comes from Sumeria.  It is a symbol of that represents 33rd degree of Scottish rite freemasonry.   It represents matter and spirit in harmony. 
Rings
They represent different degrees and the members commitment 2 the order.  Most masons wear them on their right hand.  Expect the Knights Templars, they wear it on the left.  That because they take oaths with their left hand.  
Lodge
The lodge is the place where Masons meet.  Each lodge is different, but they have a lot in common.  They vote for who joins.  Lodges are ruled by grand lodges.  They make rules for lodges.  Some lodges have different teaching, but they all follow the same script at least for the most part.  The blue lodges are the lodges men in the blue degrees go too.  The blue degrees are the first 3 degrees.  You have to be a master mason, b4 you can join most rites.  
Grand Lodges
They rule over regular lodges in a certain area.  There are grand lodges on most continents.  Each state in the U.S. has it own grand lodge.  The 1st grand lodge was created in England in 1717.  The blue lodges are ruled by them, not the rites beyond that.  Most masons neva get past the blue degrees.       
Ur Lodges
There are 36 of those lodges.  Some of them are democratic and others are elitist.  A few of them are neither or both.  The elitist ones see humans as garbage.  They believe a small group of people should rule over the rest.  Humans are unfit 2 rule themselves, they believe.  The democratic faction believe in human rights and agency.  They are more into a democratic(voting) republican(no monarchy) form of government.  While the elitists are more into monarchies and/or communism.  Both factions are evil though, because they rule the world secretly and they're mass murderers.  Many politicians and terrorists around the globe are in in these lodges.    
Regularity
Grand lodges(gl) determine which lodges are regular.  If a lodge is regular it will be able to interact with the grand lodge.  Each gl has it own rules when it comes to regularity, which means a lodge could be regular to one gl and irregular 2 another.  There are two major types of freemasonry: Continental and Anglo.  The Anglo is led by the United Grand Lodge of England.  The Continental is led by the Grand Orient of France.  The split happened in 1877, because atheists were accepted in French lodges.  You have to believe in a god to join a Anglo lodge.  A lodge is irregular/clandestine if it not accepted by a gl.  Continental lodges are irregular to Anglo lodges.  The P2 lodge in Italy became irregular and committed crimes last century.                              
Rites+
Prince Hall:  Black men couldn't join the Freemasonry in the U.S. because of segregation.  Prince Hall created his own rite 4 black men.  @ 1st it was irregular, now it's regular.  
Masonic Order of Liberia: This was the rite of the ruling class.  They were descendants of ex-slaves from the US.  After the civil war in Liberia, this rite kind of faded out.  It may be rebuilt.  
The National Mexican Rite:  It was created in 1834.  It has 6 degrees beyond Master Mason.  Their rituals are based on the Scottish Rite.  
French: It was created in 1786 by British exiles.  Most of lodges are under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient of France.  It has 7 degrees and it's open to non-religious people.   
Swish: This is a Christian rite.  You must be Christian to join.  It has 10 degrees. You don't have to be a master mason to join though.  It is popular in Northern Europe.  It's structured differently than other rites.  
York:  It's one of the most popular rites in the U.S.  It is also Christian and you can't get in unless you a Jesus lover.  It is composed of 3 parts.  One of which is the Holy Royal Arch.  Cryptic Masons and Knights Templar are the other 2 parts.  
Scottish: It was created in France.  This is the most popular rite in the U.S. Most people in this rite are Christians, but you don't have to be Christian to join. There may be a satanic undercurrent in this rite.  I heard the Scottish Rite was trying to take over the whole freemasonry!!!!!
Shriners: They use Islamic symbolism and wear red fezzes.  They created a lot of children hospitals.  They like to dress tiny cars.  They worship Allah.
Royal Order of Jesters:  You have to be a Shriner to join.  They like orgy parties.  They rape women and engage in homosexual activity.  They are very pedophilic.    
Rites of Memphis -Misraim: It is a irregular rite, so regular masons can't join.  It has 97 degrees and it comes from 2 rites put together.  The Grand Orient of France do not accept 94 of their degrees.  They beefed with the Scottish Rite in 19th century.  The creators of this rite added rituals and degrees from other rites of freemasonry.  This rite is very biblical; they big on the flood.  Crowley added sum of their rituals and degrees to OTO.  
Holy Royal Arch: Members of this order learn more about morality.  It is based on Israelites return from there Babylonian captivity.  The masons have to rebuild Solomon Temple metaphorically.  The members are taught to help humanity.           
Eastern Star: It was created in 1850 and both sexes can join.  Women must be 18 and have a close relationship with a Masons.  Men must be Master Masons to join.  There are half a million members in Eastern Star.  There is a Prince Hall version of this rite as well.  They do a lot of charity and they're based on the bible. 
Daughters of Job: Females between ages 10-20 can join.  To join you have believe in a supreme being and be related to a Master Mason.  Girls learn to be more righteous, study the bible and patriotism.        
DeMolay: It was created in 1919.  Males between 12 and 21 can join.  They believe in 7 virtues and 3 freedoms.  They are big on ethics, they have 15 statements in their code.  Females are allowed to help out.  They are called sweetheart, princess, duchess, and little sis.  They big on sports and social events.  
There are many other rites.  Some rites are very political others are very magical.
Famous Persons
Jack the Ripper: He committed many Masonic murders.
George Washington: He was the first constitutional president
Thomas Jefferson: He was a smart politician and the 3rd president.
Ben Franklin: Smart politician.  He was in the Hellfire Club.
Arnold Palmer: Golfer.
KFC Colonel
Steve Wozniak: Co-founder of Apple
John Glen: Astronaut
Harry Truman: 33rd president of US and Shriner.
King Edward VII: A king of England
Bob Dole: Politician and veteran.
King Goerge VI: King of England
Beethoven: Great musician maybe moor
Mozart: Great musician maybe moor
John Hancock: Patriot of US.  Fought British 4 independence.
Wright Brothers: 2nd people to make flying vehicle.
Andrew Jackson: 7th president of US.
James Monroe: 5th president of the US.
James Polk: 11th president of US
Andrew Johnson: 17th president of US
Theodore Roosevelt: 26th president of US
Warren Harding: 29th president of US
Lyndon Johnson: 36th president of US
Gerald Ford: 38th president of US
Duke Ellington: Painter, Composer, and much moor
Paul Revere: Patriot. Fought brits for independence
Winston Churchill: Prime minister of Britain
William Basie: Jazz and much moor
Nat King Cole: Singer and much moor
J.C. Penny: Created J.C. Penny store.
Mark Twain: Famous author
Booker T. Washington: Hampton Univerity graduate (me 2), Founder of Tuskegee Institute, author, leader of working-class African Americans (my tribe, sweet!!!!!!!), and so much moor
Gutzon Borglum: Sculpted Mount Rushmore
James Hoban: Designer of White House in Washington D.C.
Harry Houdini: Famous magician
Ringling Brothers: Cirus creators
Jack Warner: Co-founder of Warner Bros.
Thomas Lipton: Creator of Lipton Ice Tea
Walter Chrysler: Created Chrysler Corporation
Dave Thomas: Creator of Wendy's
Sugar Ray Robinson: Great boxer and so much moor
Carroll O'Connor: Sheriff on Heat of the Night tv series.
Stalin: Probably freemason.  Did Masonic gestures
Aleister Crowley: Famous powerful evil magickian.
Manly P. Hall: Wrote sweet books.  He had a lot of knowledge.
H.G. Wells: Famous author.  Wrote the time machine.
Tony Blair: P.M. of Great Britain
John Wilkes Booth: Killed Lincoln.
Senator Byrd: Member of the KKK (masonic originally), mentored Hilary in the Senate.
There were other presidents, prime ministers, royalty, actors, astronauts, artists, musicians, athletes, and other people with deep pockets that were freemasons. It's a worldwide organization.
Influence
I heard most leaders of nations are freemasons or in a organization affiliated with them.  There are many mason in the U.S. political landscape.  About 20 U.S. presidents were Masons. Most of the government in the 3rd Republic of France was freemasons.  There is the Fraternal Order of Police, which is freemasonry 4 cops.  That creates a conflict of interest because they suppose protect society, yet sworn a oath to a cult!  Firefighters have the Templar cross as a symbol.  Knights Templar are a rite of freemasonry.  Sum ideas in hip hop are freemasonic.  Rappers were called MCs, which means master of ceremony.  Several rappers are masons.  Such as Jay-Z and Rick Ross.  There are checkerboard floors in a lot of rap videos.  Many gang symbols are freemasonic.  You think it's a coincidence?            
Strange, but true 
The star Sirius is important to the Freemasons.  They are somehow connected to reptoids (demons/aliens). Catholic Church and Freemasonry joined forces last century.  High-level masons see Lucifer (Roman god of light) as good and Yahweh as evil.  It is true that Yahweh is evil, just read the old testament.  It's still not a good idea to worship Lucifer.  When you worship something you give your energy to it.  Be careful what you worship. In my opinion, you shouldn't worship anything because it makes you inferior.  You create your destiny with free will.  
George GM James
He was a historian and author from Guyana.  Stolen Legacy was a book he wrote about Greek philosophy being stolen from Egypt.  The information in the book came from Masonic sources.  Then he died a violent death; I believe a mason killed him.  
Conclusion
This is the age of Aquarius; so I'm doing away with all things that are Piscean and Arian.  Abrahamic religions have to go because they are outdated.  Then the world will be a lot better.  My advice is to stay away from Freemasonry.  Some lodges are good and some are evil.  You don't know which is which until you join. So just stay away, you don't need them.  They are remnants of an old age.  We are in new age, so be sovereign.      
References
Albert Pike

An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Masonic_Grand_Lodges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXCaHoR8avk
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/templars/knights_templars02.htm
http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/articles/the-masons-and-the-moors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Masonic_Rites
https://www.dummies.com/article/body-mind-spirit/religion-spirituality/freemasonry/freemasons-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-209421/
https://www.dummies.com/article/body-mind-spirit/religion-spirituality/freemasonry/freemasons-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-209421/
https://yogaesoteric.net/en/36-illuminati-masonic-super-ur-lodges-rule-the-world-towards-its-demise-1/
https://www.freemason.com/operative-vs-speculative-masons/
http://stichtingargus.nl/vrijmetselarij/frame_en.html
https://freemasonrywatch.org/index.html
https://masonicfind.com/masonic-symbols
https://www.masonicworld.com/education/articles/benefits_of_masonic_membership.htm