Spring Forward...
Mar. 24th, 2014 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peacetraveler22
In America, we have an expression - "spring forward, fall back." The phrase is used in connection with Daylight Savings Time, when Americans move their clocks one hour forward at the start of the spring season and one hour back in autumn. However, the saying also is a metaphor for life. At times, problems, frustrations and stresses pile to the point that we stumble and fall backward. The challenge is to not get beaten down to the point that you give up and refuse to lift yourself from the ground. People who fail to do so account for a large portion of the miserable, bitter adults roaming the planet. For me, the main frustration recently has been my job, which has become overbearing and life consuming. This leads to almost no time for the blog or anything else in life, and it's the reason for my long absence from writing here the past few weeks. Yet, we are always in control of our own lives and destiny to some extent, so I formulated a plan for change.
A few weeks ago, I started writing a proposal to reduce my work schedule as a lawyer. The goal was to convince my law firm that I am valuable, even if I'm in the office less. As lawyers, we are trained to be persuasive, to argue and advocate for the interests of our clients and, ultimately, for ourselves. I wrote here that being single with no children provides me with a lot freedom in life - ultimately, I'm financially responsible for and answer only to myself. And, for me, the most important thing in life is to keep moving forward and exploring, not having a huge bank account.
My proposal was approved on Friday and will be implemented at the beginning of April. What does this mean? Less time in the office and more time to travel! Also, a large reduction in salary so I'll probably have fewer trips overseas, although I'll somehow find a way to return to Russia in the near future. :) Two international trips already are planned, and I'll announce the details soon.
Many of you contacted me in comments and personal messages during my absence to make sure I was okay. I'm grateful to have so many dedicated and kind readers. Together, we spring forward - both on the blog and with the change of season. The cherry blossoms, pictured in the cover photo from 2013, will soon be in full bloom in Washington, DC. It's the most beautiful time in the city, and I'll show you more in future reports.
A reminder that you can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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no subject
Date: 2014-03-25 02:14 am (UTC)There is another series about lizards that came to conquer the Earth. They landed right in the middle of WWII in Warsaw, Poland. Hit Hitler with A-bomb and saved the Jews who became their only allies on Earth. As reptiles, the lizards did not have sex drive but in the short periods of heat for egg laying. This drive could be stimulated, as it turned out, with ginger. So on Earth ginger became a kind of addictive drug for the alien invaders. The inventive humans used it to defeat the lizards, and many other funny events ... There is also interplay of human activities as the war continued involving the Americans, Soviets, Germans, etc.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-25 01:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-25 02:45 pm (UTC)First of all, Russia has to be isolated economically. It is very painful for us but better that a war. Petro-embargo will choke Putin's cronies. They could eliminate him and then step back in Ukraine.
Second, NATO should express a more direct support to Ukraine. A kind of separative forces need to be placed along the border with Russia. ABM defense batteries need to be placed in Ukraine. Politically, Ukraine needs to be somehow incorporated in the NATO system as soon as possible.
Putin does not have an efficient army. The lack of military unit control was clearly shown when the regular Russian army was beaten in two recent wars in Chechnya. The weapons are delapidated.
The only danger is the nuclear stick.
This all needs to be effected as soon as possible because Putin goes on destabilization of Ukraine with numerous provocations. And a large scale civil war can start in Ukraine.
We had these two lessons:
- from WWI - help the defeated enemy rise from ruins
- from WWII - do not allow the defeated enemy to start doing what led to that WWII
The tragedy of the situation is that the Evil Empire has not been actually defeated. The beast with broken teeth rises up again and nobody wants to beat him again - there is no actual need, only some crazy rave of a lunatic.
I am kind of desperate, it all is so irrational.
Recently heard thesed words -
Putin is a cargo cult of Hitler.
This is total absurd.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-25 03:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-25 03:50 pm (UTC)And Russia, for her treason of the Allies, is directly to be blamed for this individual's death
Again, the Americans did not want to fight with Germany in 1939 but their IDEALISM forced them to in December 1941.
Please... go read Turtledove's Hitler's War, volume 1.
It is an alternative, with a lot of argumentation, to the actual Munich agreement. In Turtledove's world, the British and the French did not agree with Hitler and started the war with him already in 1938. As the result, England almost gets defeated by Hitler, France gets defeated, they both turn sides, become Hitler's allies and goes to fight the Soviets. The United States, deeply in war with Japan, has now to fight Hitler alone.
Yet I do not suggest an immediate war. My idea is to introduce the separative forces in Ukraine ASAP. Before Putin starts his invasion. The NATO forces may deter this invasion - and war.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-25 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-26 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-26 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-26 02:22 am (UTC)There is already poetry on the topic:
Date: 2014-03-25 06:15 pm (UTC)