Hernando's Hideaway. Another Thread "almost certainly not for you."

a reply to: DISRAELI

It doesn't, but at the same time, I am thinking that the Ukrainians are not going to forget what happened to them under the Soviet Union during the famine when so many of them were starved and so many of the ethnic Russians were fed right in front of them in order to subdue the region and reconcile it to Soviet rule. I would think that's got to be hard to get over.

a reply to: Bassago

Hey thanks, Bassago. I'm back from the bathroom and took that copy of Foreign Affairs with me. You had me scared for a minute that I wouldn't be able to make any sense of it, but with enough Diet Pepsi I pulled it off.

My understanding is that Mearsheimer believes that Russia felt threatened by Ukraine showing interest in becoming aligned with the West. According to Mearsheimer, whether that was reasonable or not doesn't matter because Russia believed it. So Russia, believing it was going to be overrun by something (Democracy? Free choice? Justin Bieber DVD's? OK, I'll give you that one as a serious threat), decided to start taking land from a country about to choose it's path in the world.

The US was supposed to have foreseen this reaction, writes Mearsheimer, and should have guaranteed that Ukraine could not join NATO even if it wanted to. That way Russia wouldn't be scared and wouldn't go around taking other people's land.

Does this analysis only apply to Russia and Ukraine, or should we also apply it to China and her neighbors, and to Israel and the rest of the Mid-East?

What I don't see in the analysis is a stopping point. Somewhere the West can say, that's absolutely enough, we don't care how threatened you feel. Put one soldier in that country, and there will be no remains to ship home.

I agree that it's a good article, and I'm really glad you suggested it, thanks.

a reply to: ketsuko

Yeah, that's kind of a sore subject. Both of my mother's parents were almost trapped by that created famine. Millions died. It's still a mistake to call a Ukrainian a Russian. I see no reason to believe that Russia cares for the individual any more now than it did then.

Of course they can't be so obvious about it, it's easier to get caught. But I believe the philosophy's still there.

Those "Original thinkers" that brotherman was talking about? In the Soviet Union you could have written them in care of the Gulag.

a reply to: guohua

Guohua! Shame on you! You have not been given a slip which authorizes illness.

Boy, I'm really sorry to hear about your illness. And Mr. guohua, too? There is just too much suffering in the world for me. None of my friends should ever be unhappy or sick or needy. I just won't stand for it.

My next display of completely childish idiocy is scheduled for sometime during tonight's program.

No problems that you haven't studied Russia, but I'm curious, was Russia seen as more of an ally or an enemy?

Just lie back, I'll bring both of you some tea.

No problems that you haven't studied Russia, but I'm curious, was Russia seen as more of an ally or an enemy?

a reply to: charles1952
My Friend,,,, Their have always been considered an enemy more than a friend.

a reply to: guohua

Hi, there! Are you and the Mr. feeling better? I hope so. Shall I bring more tea?

It must have made the government nervous, having the Bear so close to the Dragon.

Good afternoon / evening / morning / night depending upon what timezones everyones in .. been doing the tourist thing visited the great wall .. the forbidden city .. wandering around market places today .. got thirsty so dropped in for a drink ..

Must admit with all the politics .. wars and problems in the world theres days that wish japan would return to the old ways and seal off the borders from the world limiting contact with the outside world to the trading port at nagasaki .. prior to perry forcing the country to open up to the world japan had two and a half centuries of peace during which time culture flourished the people had good standard of living / quality of life .. though during the onin wars before the tokugawa shogunate was established and the country unified life was brutal and harsh .. meh.. stuck in the wrong century ..


Moving on before end up ranting ..

Seems in the west conformity to the state matters more than individuality .. independent thought .. people are told what to think rather than taught how to think .. creativity is stifled .. leaders dont care about the well being or needs of those they lead .. with how its going it will be a very bleak society .. no hopes .. no dreams and no future in it other than serving the state ..

Anyhoo .. my tea just arrived and after finish back to playing tourist till the clubs open later tonight ..

a reply to: charles1952
OH, Kind Gracious Charles, more tea please,The husband takes Green tea with a little Honey.
I'll have what's called Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea, it's has no real tea leaves in it, but is a collection of Herbs and Spices, like Moroccan Rosebuds, Oregon Mint, Tropical Hibiscus, Cinnamon from Indonesia and more Botanical Ingredients.
It has very little Caffeine, so my husband won't drink it!

It smells Good
Thank You for caring, yes we're feeling better, I think we had to much sun the other day.
It's very warm or should I say HOT in Phoenix.

a reply to: Expat888

Expat, my friend, you're not really a tourist, you know those street and the best places to eat as well as me i'll bet
So,,,,, who is she?

a reply to: charles1952

Charles , Yes actually, the Bear was just one or two hours from my home city of Harbin.
The 60's and 70's, in the 1960's and into the 1970's there was fighting on the border in some places between China and Russia. In the 80's it was still unnerving at times with Russia but better, then there was India and of-course America, China felt very alone, unless you want to count the Crazy from N Korea!

For some reason, we just have a problem making friends!

a reply to: Expat888
Expat,,,,,,,

Anyhoo .. my tea just arrived and after finish back to playing tourist till the clubs open later tonight ..

Put then Tea Cup Down,,, The Clubs Are Open!
The first ones or at least this ones on us

a reply to: guohua

Shhh.. playing tourist and ask directions gives me excuse to talk to all the cute chinese ladies .. if they find out know way around Id have to think up some cheesy pick up line to use ..

Though do tend to visit historic sites more when visit places .. figure few days sight seeing and drinking then catch flight to japan .. few here think am inhuman as dont get hangovers .. always clearhead and ready for day after night drinking ..

Always find best food at the little places tucked away off the beaten path .. avoid the places the tourists and western expats go .. though it is entertaining at times to go watch their antics ..

Nope.. no particular lady .. enjoying my freedom after the last empress was exiled .. heh former inlaw said Im worse than king of hell on the rare occasion lose temper ..

You got mooncakes autumn festival time .. quite a variety of mooncakes available now in shops got some earlier ..

hope you both get to feeling better remember to take care of your health .. the lemon ginger herbal tea is good works wonders .. for times it too hot and to cool the body try oldenlandia water should be able find at asian market or apothecary there ..

a reply to: guohua
Hehe taking taxi to club at moment .. traffic heavy tonight should have walked instead ..
Gambei will catch the next round ..

Sigh. (How do you write a long, extended sigh?)

On the one hand, I'm really happy to see the crowd at Hernando's, I was getting a little nervous. Plus, an internet friend I thought was gone forever has accepted my apology and we'll be able to speak with each other again.

But, still . . .

I had a trip to Mexico when I was 17. It was 6 weeks long and was part of a high school Spanish class. All guided, of course. Then, 20 -25 years ago I had 10 days in Germany and the surrounding area as a gift from my parents for finishing law school.

That's it. Besides those two small dots of light, I know nothing at all of the world. It's not that I feel envy, but I do think I've missed out on a lot, and that my world is much smaller because of it.

I'm sure guohua and Expat888, know and enjoy things the rest of us can only guess at.

I wonder if China made a good decision by walling itself off. Probably, but if I feel my world is small because I know so little of it, the world of the Chinese must have been smaller still.

I know I believe peace to be nearly essential, but do I understand it correctly? New and original ideas disturb peace, at least for a while. Suspended animation is true peace, but not one I'd want. There is evil in the world, and in our hearts. Don't we have an obligation to war against it?

Sometimes I think I know what I'm talking about, but I'm wrong and I'm glad for the the times when I see that I don't. At least then I'm in truth. I can't even say what I mean by peace and whether it's a good thing. I'm glad for hernando's where I can admit things like that.

Bartender! Might i have something that's not too strong? I've got some thinking to do and I'm up against a stone wall.

a reply to: charles1952

Bartender! Might i have something that's not too strong? I've got some thinking to do and I'm up against a stone wall.

Whoops.. wha?? sorry was sleeping behind the bar and missed that last order. Not to strong, got it! Two double Jack Daniels w/ a splash of coke coming right up.

Now tell me friend Charles what's really on your mind?

a reply to: Bassago

Oh Bassago, you sly old guy, you. You don't want to hear my whole story, I assure you it is not uplifting. What I was specifically thinking about when I wrote that was that I wish people "Peace" frequently, and I'm not sure what it is. How can a guy of my age not know that?

And, I've wandered into some of the other threads, some of them were Ukrainian threads I used for our radio show last night. It seems like Israel - Gaza, and Russia - Ukraine, are two areas which are strictly take no prisoners. It still, even after some time here, bothers me when people basically say, "To hell with the argument, I'm going to spend the next several posts insulting your character and intelligence without even thinking about what you wrote. You're on the other side so I have to destroy you."

And, there's a lot of pain in the world, I take others' hurt too close to my heart. And if I cause that hurt, I can shut down, literally, for several days.

I know this is a bar, but I have to retain some dignity. Nobody likes a drunk who feels sorry for himself. There is so much I could have done, but I didn't.

Aw, rats. Enough of this. What's your favorite lure when you go fishing? Why is everybody so upset with the Federal Reserve. Who's going to win the Super Bowl? Have you ever wanted to run with the bulls at Pamplona? Which is superior, French cuisine or Italian? What's the hot topic at Hernando's?

Sometimes, I just want to hide. Get me another, would you please?

a reply to: charles1952

Favorite lures, fishing talk! Now I could regal you with stories of drift fishing the Olympic Peninsula's greatest Salmon, Steelhead and trout rivers. Or perhaps fly-fishing the high mountain alpine lakes for huge Rainbow and Brook trout.. but I won't. Favorite fly is the Muddler Minnow all sizes, favorite lure is the Flash-Glo. Most people probably never heard of them but if I was limited in lures say because of an apocalypse or something those would be my choices.

Now onto the serious stuff. What is peace? My version of it is peace = serenity. Since serenity is internal it belongs to the person and external events have no effect. Just my opinion I guess.

I can't recall ever seeing you cause hurt Charles, at least on ATS. Wish I could say the same. You are very empathic it seems to me. There's a limit for that simply for self preservation. I on the other hand am a ruthless killer dog with no remorse. Look at it this way, in a thousand years who's going to care?

Oh, the Federal Reserve is what sold America into debt slavery. I hate them with a passion. If I had three wishes.. actually only need one wish to resolve that misery machine to a pile of smoldering dust.

a reply to: Bassago

Nice work, Bassago, I appreciate your effort, thanks.

We've got a thunderstorm moving in so if I drop off, that's only because I normally do in any kind of storm.

Fishing. I'm envious again. It's natural, ancient, healthy, hard to say too much good about it. Just another area I know nothing about. I'd love to hear your stories when you feel like letting loose.

I'm going to send this, as is. In case I lose my connection, you'll know what happened.

Perhaps it is time for another round of drinks;

a reply to: charles1952
Goodmorning Charles .. both your trips sound like they were interesting .. years ago mexico was nice place to visit alot of history and culture there though these days would be leary of it mainly due the cartels feel sorry for the regular people there .. germany a fun place to visit especially during oktoberfest .. actually aside from military people there youve travelled more than most americans do .. sad really that only about one percent have passports there and out of them less than ten percent travel abroad .. whereas in europe and asia most people have passports and visit other countries ..

Its never too late and your never too old to travel you should take a holiday and visit a few places ..

Its funny most places Ive been the regular people get along fine .. its the idiot leaders that always stir up trouble and start wars ..

Still trying to find peace in this world .. so far its elusive usually because leaders forget the responsibility to the wellbeing of the people and instead start wars to boost their ego's and make their bloodmoney .. or oppress their people with taxes .. overregulation and far too many laws ..

Fully understand about shutting down over the pain of others .. one of many reasons prefer and need my solitude and distance from people and so-called "civilization" .. it gets to you because you have a heart and compassion for others .. time away from things helps have learned ..