Cool post. Re. K2: Maybe the book goes over this, but the big mountains used to be the provenance of elite mountaineers, who, even with their incredible skill, training, etc., still got the chop sometimes. Now, add massive commercial operations with huge numbers of people, many not really up to the physical/emotional challenges of the peak and causing outrageous time delays when moving fast is critical to safety, and, well, you get carnage like never before. It's sad, crazy, and stupid.
I've discovered that to be the case through the numerous YouTube videos I've watched about mountaineering lately. Everest looks like a horrorshow! It really is sad, and dangerous. I see a microcosm of it in surfing, where guides will bring out inexperienced surfers to places they don't belong. It's very frustrating and potentially dangerous.
On this particular expedition, the South Korean team was quite large and they slowed down the summit attempt considerably. Many people might have survived if it hadn't been for that.
Only seven years huh, did you bribe the guy at the Bureau for Allocation of Машини :D
That's so interesting to hear you say that he was possibly the last great leader because I know so little about it. From my recent reading though it is apparent that he had strong values and was an admirable equal for Gorbachev and Thatcher.
Did children in the USSR also practice duck and cover drills under their desks, as in the USA?
There has been an increase in old interviews and speeches of Reagan’s on YouTube. Great to watch, spoken with poise and dignity and also somewhat witty (the man was an actor and it shows). Quite different from the senile buffoons we’ve been forced to watch for the last 8 years.
Never hid under the desk at school, but the running joke (told only to real friends and in whispers) was that if the US nukes start falling we should start walking slowly towards the cemetery with our arms outstretched. Then comes the “Why slowly with outstretched arms?” And you deliver the punchline: “So the AK-47 you’re carrying in your hands doesn’t melt on your shoes!”
To appreciate the deeper sadness of the joke is helped by the fact that we normally were able to buy only 1 pair of shoes a year, usually right before school...
Indeed, watching Biden it's hard not to believe we're living in full clown world. That's really the best we can do, huh...
I can understand why you'd be reluctant to get melted Kalashnikov slag on your only pair of shoes. It seems like there is a lot of dark humor like this in Russia / former USSR. Dark jokes to deal with dark times.
You have a great writing style. Snappy and to the point. Nice to read an article and get as much out of it in 5 minutes as some that take me a half-hour to read. Well done!
Thanks Claudine! The snappiness comes from editing. I prepared this in advance and had 5 glorious days to attack it with the delete key. In my experience, the best writing almost always happens when you have time to do a thorough, multi-stage edit.
This is both encouraging and daunting. I just set up my very own publication and I want to make sure it's engaging. I want to post an article before the New Year, but I also want it to be *good.* Guess I'd better get a draft down so I can edit it.
A Russian scientist arrives at JFK with 2 suitcases and is greeted by his American host who quickly notices the fancy watch on his wrist.
Flattered, the Russian describes a litany of great features and abilities of the watch (here the joke teller can really shine with made on the spot features like “gauges how mad your wife is”)
The American is floored and offers to buy the watch for $5000, $10,000 and is finally able to persuade the Russian to part with it for $20,000.
After getting the watch the American puts it on and starts to walk away.
“Hey, don’t forget the batteries”, yells the Russian, pointing to the 2 large suitcases...
Right on. Money is of course very important, as is having access to material goods like inexpensive clothing and so forth, but to say that having the latest tech is end all be all of happiness is asinine. As you point out, we've lost a connection to something deeper and I think we're overdue in waking up to a more invigorating way of life.
I read Endurance in college and loved it! Good suggestion. No Way Down is interesting, but not perfect. As I said, structurally it's a difficult story to tell. But a quick read anyways.
I've written before that I think there is the potential for religion to make a comeback but it must be revitalized for the 21st century. I.e. Jordan Peterson discusses the implications of biblical stories and what the underlying message/teaching is. We need more of that. What does the story of Noah's Ark ACTUALLY mean.
Also, I think more people just need to hit rock bottom. As they do so, binged out on their iPhones and unhappiness. They'll go looking for other solutions. Be that religion or getting involved in the community or anything that doesn't involve using a credit card. That which cannot continue forever, won't. And I don't think our current state of unhappiness can continue forever.
I have been vaguely aware of the religious overtones present in that brilliant trilogy, but your brief summary there is probably the best & most coherent explanation I've ever seen. Nice! I especially like that Morpheus reference, of which I had no idea. Very interesting.
Cool post. Re. K2: Maybe the book goes over this, but the big mountains used to be the provenance of elite mountaineers, who, even with their incredible skill, training, etc., still got the chop sometimes. Now, add massive commercial operations with huge numbers of people, many not really up to the physical/emotional challenges of the peak and causing outrageous time delays when moving fast is critical to safety, and, well, you get carnage like never before. It's sad, crazy, and stupid.
I've discovered that to be the case through the numerous YouTube videos I've watched about mountaineering lately. Everest looks like a horrorshow! It really is sad, and dangerous. I see a microcosm of it in surfing, where guides will bring out inexperienced surfers to places they don't belong. It's very frustrating and potentially dangerous.
On this particular expedition, the South Korean team was quite large and they slowed down the summit attempt considerably. Many people might have survived if it hadn't been for that.
Reagan was a great leader, probably the last one...
We “only” waited for our car 7 years, but it was only because we opted for the less powerful and prestigious Skoda.
I still remember our first color tv in 1984, my first Coke in 1986, etc.
To tie this all in with the happiness part, I still regard my childhood as happy and my life peaceful...
Only seven years huh, did you bribe the guy at the Bureau for Allocation of Машини :D
That's so interesting to hear you say that he was possibly the last great leader because I know so little about it. From my recent reading though it is apparent that he had strong values and was an admirable equal for Gorbachev and Thatcher.
Did children in the USSR also practice duck and cover drills under their desks, as in the USA?
There has been an increase in old interviews and speeches of Reagan’s on YouTube. Great to watch, spoken with poise and dignity and also somewhat witty (the man was an actor and it shows). Quite different from the senile buffoons we’ve been forced to watch for the last 8 years.
Never hid under the desk at school, but the running joke (told only to real friends and in whispers) was that if the US nukes start falling we should start walking slowly towards the cemetery with our arms outstretched. Then comes the “Why slowly with outstretched arms?” And you deliver the punchline: “So the AK-47 you’re carrying in your hands doesn’t melt on your shoes!”
To appreciate the deeper sadness of the joke is helped by the fact that we normally were able to buy only 1 pair of shoes a year, usually right before school...
Indeed, watching Biden it's hard not to believe we're living in full clown world. That's really the best we can do, huh...
I can understand why you'd be reluctant to get melted Kalashnikov slag on your only pair of shoes. It seems like there is a lot of dark humor like this in Russia / former USSR. Dark jokes to deal with dark times.
You have a great writing style. Snappy and to the point. Nice to read an article and get as much out of it in 5 minutes as some that take me a half-hour to read. Well done!
Thanks Claudine! The snappiness comes from editing. I prepared this in advance and had 5 glorious days to attack it with the delete key. In my experience, the best writing almost always happens when you have time to do a thorough, multi-stage edit.
This is both encouraging and daunting. I just set up my very own publication and I want to make sure it's engaging. I want to post an article before the New Year, but I also want it to be *good.* Guess I'd better get a draft down so I can edit it.
Indeed, time is short! Congrats on starting your own, I look forward to reading it.
Writing is just producing the block of marble. Editing is the chisel work with which you summon the statue.
Lmfao, I totally didn't see that coming :D I love it. I might even steal it and use it in a future edition, with your permission of course комраде!
Отлично, спасибо большое товарищ )))
Similar:
A Russian scientist arrives at JFK with 2 suitcases and is greeted by his American host who quickly notices the fancy watch on his wrist.
Flattered, the Russian describes a litany of great features and abilities of the watch (here the joke teller can really shine with made on the spot features like “gauges how mad your wife is”)
The American is floored and offers to buy the watch for $5000, $10,000 and is finally able to persuade the Russian to part with it for $20,000.
After getting the watch the American puts it on and starts to walk away.
“Hey, don’t forget the batteries”, yells the Russian, pointing to the 2 large suitcases...
In Soviet Russia there is always a catch :D
I'm really enjoying all these Soviet anecdotes.
Right on. Money is of course very important, as is having access to material goods like inexpensive clothing and so forth, but to say that having the latest tech is end all be all of happiness is asinine. As you point out, we've lost a connection to something deeper and I think we're overdue in waking up to a more invigorating way of life.
I read Endurance in college and loved it! Good suggestion. No Way Down is interesting, but not perfect. As I said, structurally it's a difficult story to tell. But a quick read anyways.
I've written before that I think there is the potential for religion to make a comeback but it must be revitalized for the 21st century. I.e. Jordan Peterson discusses the implications of biblical stories and what the underlying message/teaching is. We need more of that. What does the story of Noah's Ark ACTUALLY mean.
Also, I think more people just need to hit rock bottom. As they do so, binged out on their iPhones and unhappiness. They'll go looking for other solutions. Be that religion or getting involved in the community or anything that doesn't involve using a credit card. That which cannot continue forever, won't. And I don't think our current state of unhappiness can continue forever.
I have been vaguely aware of the religious overtones present in that brilliant trilogy, but your brief summary there is probably the best & most coherent explanation I've ever seen. Nice! I especially like that Morpheus reference, of which I had no idea. Very interesting.