A RUSSIAN OBSERVATION

A quick Russian item.

Putin invades Ukraine. Obama and the western powers try to get him to back off peacefully by the use of sanctions. The sanctions are severe. Russia is hurting. Especially when it comes to Russian gas sales which make up 75 percent of Russia’s revenues.

Putin six months ago said up yours, in effect. He announced a 30 year deal with China that involved the construction of a Russia to China gas line. China agreed to buy a certain amount of Russian gas.

This past week Putin announced another gas deal with China. A 30 year one, also. Another new gas line and delivery of more gas to China.

Putin is a tough guy. Perhaps a bully, also. He does not bend in the wind.

Russia is nowhere near the power it was as the Soviet Union. The break up of the Soviet Union in 1991 downgraded the new and smaller Russia. Russia was no longer the feared power it had been.

Putin is playing like Russia is the power of old. Russia still has a large number of nuclear weapons. Putin is also making friends big time with China.

Former Russian premier Gorbachev said yesterday that a new cold war could occur. It might already have started, he said.

I spent most of yesterday morning working on the second book in the series The World Upside Down. I have been lacking in diligence and have not been writing as much as I should. My publisher is unhappy. He had hoped to publish the book before Christmas. Looks like February now.

My afternoon was spent watching Syracuse and Duke play. I watched at home. The game was carried locally. The game went as anticipated. Syracuse got druubbed. Duke beat Syracuse 27-10. The Syracuse record now 3-7.

The Syracuse players have to feel lousy. I understand only too well. I captained my eighth grade grammar school team in basketball. An 18 game schedule. We lost all 18 games. Talk of despondency!

Dinner was at the other end of Duval. The new outside  bar at La Te Da. The bar top is new. Not sure whether it was marble or granite. Whatever, nice.

Power boat races end today. I hope to watch the races this afternoon.

Enjoy your Sunday!

3 comments on “A RUSSIAN OBSERVATION

  1. The Syracuse game wasn’t soooo terrible. Respectable until late in the game. Then Duke turned it up a notch and Cuse didn’t. I only watched because of you and only until it was effectively over.

    When you talked about your 0-18 record, I was reminded of the 1986 movie Gung Ho http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091159/?ref_=ttqt_qt_tt when Michael Keaton does the soliloquy about the comeback — several times — ” If you walk out that door, you’re going to miss a great comeback. We’re ready to roll here, Jack.”.

    I related that to any of the football games, I want to be there watching any of the GREAT comebacks. It’s a deeply spiritual semi-religious event. Triumph of the human spirit. Even if it falls short.

    “The battle of Waterloo was won on the fields of Eton”

    So to we can learn a lot from even losing efforts and losing seasons.

    IMHO.

    • “I spent most of yesterday morning working on the second book in the series The World Upside Down. I have been lacking in diligence and have not been writing as much as I should.”

      Get to work Lou…we are waiting for book #2. Maybe good Christmas gifts for 2014?

  2. Enjoyed dinner @ Roostica tonight, thanks to your postings. Wholesome food at a reasonable price and friendly service. Many thanks!

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