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| Saturday, August 29th, 2009 | | 5:06 pm |
Городок Кармел (Carmel-By-The-Sea), штат Калифорния, США
Carmel-By-The-Sea - необыкновенно красивый маленький городок в штате Калифорния, городок-сказка, городок мечты, городок романтиков, мистиков, поэтов и художников. Ни в одном городе мира (тем более, в таком маленьком) я не видал такого бешенного количества картинных галерей (больше 50-ти, это точно): http://www.dawsoncolefineart.comhttp://www.zantmangalleries.comhttp://www.oesfineart.comhttp://www.carmelartfestival.orghttp://www.kinkadegalleries.comhttp://www.romanoosgallery.comhttp://www.collectors-galleries.comhttp://www.jones-terwilliger-galleries.comhttp://www.claypoolefreesegallery.comhttp://www.wintersfineart.comhttp://www.newmastersgallery.comhttp://www.westbrookgalleries.comhttp://www.gallery21.comhttp://www.avalongallery.com (Imaginary Realism at Its Best! By Michael Parkes) Про заросшие зеленью улочки Кармела нам поведали еще Ильф с Петровым. В "Одноэтажной Америке" они писали, как "в маленьком тихом городке Кармел мы позавтракали в ресторанчике, на стенах которого были развешаны фотографии знаменитых киноартистов с их автографами. Тут уже пахло Голливудом, хотя до него было еще миль двести". Тут и сейчас вполне себе голливудский аромат, не без ноток запахов подстриженных газонов местных гольф-полей и выхлопов винтажных автомобилей.  Городок кажется воплощением идеала. Здесь нет неоновых знаков и светофоров, нет рекламных щитов и афиш. Нет даже почтовой доставки, и 5000 жителям приходится забирать письма из почтового отделения. Дома не пронумерованы. Существуют даже законы против еды на улице и ношения обуви на высоком каблуке. Не стоит и говорить, но здесь нет заведений быстрого питания вообще!  Эта принудительная попытка сохранить очарование старины настолько привлекает людей, что летом, особенно по выходным, на улицах не протолкнуться. Кармел обладает большим очарованием. Это место нужно посещать ради его атмосферы, а не осмотра достопримечательностей. Впрочем, пляж очень хорош, а католическая миссия представляет интерес для туристов. Я придумал простое название для этого симпатичного городка – Карамелька. До встречи в Карамельке! МБ Current Music: Reflekt - "Need To Be Loved" | | Friday, March 6th, 2009 | | 9:01 pm |
Love Story by Taylor Swift is My Present to All The Best Women Out There!
Love Story by Taylor Swift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id9sUFni8wcWe were both young when I first saw you. I close my eyes and the flashback starts: I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air. See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns. See you make your way through the crowd and say "hello"; Little did I know That you were Romeo; you were throwing pebbles, And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet." And I was crying on the staircase, begging you, "Please, don't go." And I said, "Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run. You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess It's a love story - baby just say "Yes". So I sneak out to the garden to see you. We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew. So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while. "Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter, And my daddy said "Stay away from Juliet," But you were everything to me; I was begging you, "Please, don't go!" And I said, "Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run. You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess It's a love story - baby just say "Yes". Romeo save me; they're tryin' to tell me how to feel. This love is difficult, but it's real. Don't be afraid; we'll make it out of this mess. It's a love story - baby just say "Yes". Oh. I got tired of waiting, Wondering if you were ever comin' around. My faith in you was fading When I met you on the outskirts of town. And I said, "Romeo save me - I've been feeling so alone. I keep waiting for you but you never come. Is this in my head? I don't know what to think-" He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said, "Marry me, Juliet. you'll never have to be alone. I love you and that's all I really know. I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress; It's a love story - baby just say "Yes". Oh, oh. We were both young when I first saw you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id9sUFni8wc--- Enjoy! With Love, strannik Current Music: Love Story by Taylor Swif | | Sunday, March 1st, 2009 | | 11:02 pm |
| | Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 | | 3:40 pm |
| | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 | | 5:49 pm |
Who is a Permanent Tourist or a Prior Taxpayer ? Maybe, YOU?
INDIVIDUAL SOVEREIGNTY In a nutshell, a PT merely arranges his or her paperwork in such a way that all governments consider him a tourist. A person who is just "Passing Through". The advantage is that being thought of by government officials as a person who is merely "Parked Temporarily", a PT is not subjected to taxes, military service, lawsuits, or persecution for partaking in innocent but forbidden pursuits or pleasures. Unlike most citizens or subjects, the PT will not be persecuted for his beliefs or lack of them. PT stands for many things: a PT can be a "Prior Taxpayer", "Permanent Tourist", "Practically Transparent", "Privacy Trained", "Party Thrower", "Priority Thinker", "Positive Thinker", "Prepared Totally", "Paranoid Together" or "Permanent Traveler" if he or she wants to be. The individual who is a PT can stay in one place most of the time. Or all of the time. PT is a concept, a way of life, a way of perceiving the universe and your place in it. One can be a full-time PT or a part-time PT. Some may not want to break out all at once, or become a PT at all. They just want to be aware of the possibilities, and be prepared to modify their lifestyle in the event of a crisis. Knowledge will make you sort of a PT. A "Possibility Thinker" who is "Prepared Thoroughly" for the future. PROSPECTS FOR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM Read history and you'll find human society is much like a river. At first it flows straight. A torrent of water breaks through seeking the shortest route to the sea. It goes in more or less straight line downhill. Then, every river or creek gradually bends like a snake. The great mathematician, Albert Einstein once wrote a paper explaining the mathematical reasons why water can't help winding and turning in every greater complexity. Depending on river flow and terrain, there will be many variations; shallows, rapids, eddies, branches, even dead-end ponds or lakes. Life forms grow and adapt to the changing river. Usually changes are imperceptible. Every once in a while there is a big flood. Then for a time, the river flows relatively straight again. For a little while. In society, groups of human beings start off with simple rules which gradually develop into even more complex systems. Some members of the group benefit at the expense of others. Sooner or later, bends and kinks are eliminated by a major change in the government form. This can be the result of war, epidemic, or simply exhaustion. But surely as a river develops bends, a new bureaucracy will eventually grow. What is perceived as an onerous burden to one person (a tax?) is perceived as a career opportunity to the tax collector. Thus, a good number of people at any time believe they are living in the best of all possible worlds at the best of all possible times. Simultaneously, others feel oppressed. Someone with the PT mentality who isn't living the PT life will perceive this situation as intolerable. "Everything is going to hell. Nothing is as good as it used to be." What is the reality? Simply that some people in any society (or fish in a river) will have it good (or bad) some of the time. Most of the people will have it good (or bad) most of the time. A few people will seem to have it very good all of the time. As I said in PT, happiness is a state of mind, a perception. Your reality is not necessarily my reality. In Joseph Stalin's time, nobody could deny that from a personal freedom and material point of view, Joe himself (materially at least ) had it pretty good -- even though no one else in the Soviet Union lived as well as he did. But I venture to say that if we asked Joe in 1950 if he was happy, he'd disregard the material aspect to focus on the fact that is life and the political system he ran was in constant danger. He survived only by deporting, jailing and murdering a few million of his (perceived) enemies every year. Today in Russia, there is a new system offering vastly more economic opportunity and personal freedom. There are lots of newly rich Russians who for the first time in 75 years have the legal right to engage in commerce, travel and communications with foreigners. At the same time, in modern Russia, there is also more personal danger to the non-political guy on the street from violent criminals, and from economic circumstance. Would you be happy there? Achieving stability, security and prosperity (or whatever social goals of a large group of people in general agree upon) plus encouraging individual freedom always involves a balancing act. Sometimes the main goal of a large group of people is enforcing certain religious beliefs. You can never please all the people and so, there is constant tinkering. One way to read current events in trend settings countries like the U.S.A., where more and more people are being jailed for less and less (in the way of offences), is a decline in personal freedom. But a decline in freedom for those in jail can be interpreted as an increase in freedom for those outside. Those not incarcerated are free from disturbance by those offenders sent away. Few people complain about the incarceration of categories of bad people that they themselves do not feel they fit into. A PT by definition is a non-conformist in a highly regulated, highly taxed, first world society. Thus a PT must adapt in a special way. "How do I cope?" you ask. "How do I get myself and my family a material lifestyle better than anyone else or at least better than average?" Merely asking this question would be offensive to a socialist who wants all people to be 'equal'. "How do I avoid conscription, confrontation, imprisonment and perhaps even death at the hands of my own government?" (This question is possibly treason in certain locations). The answer for a PT is not difficult. Figure out what kind of behaviour is being rewarded in the town (or country) where you live, and what kind of behaviour is being punished. Then take the obvious path to make more money, sex, power, immortality, glory or whatever it is that you think you need. Obviously you must avoid activities or behaviour that gets you into trouble locally. If you can't exist comfortably where you are, or can't get what you want where you live; then look for opportunities (and restrictions) elsewhere in the world. Consider a physical move to where greater opportunities exist. Your particular river may have too many bends for your taste, but for the foreseeable future there will always be plenty of over rivers. Most fish are attached to a particular river, but you can choose to move to the environment that suits you best. In some countries, entrepreneurs are richly rewarded. In the USA this is still true, but more so in unregulated, new fields of endeavour like say, computers. It is hard (but not impossible) to go to jail for coming up with the best selling original innovation in software or hardware. Try to be innovative in American or Swiss banking and you will be breaking a million and one rules. In countries like the Philippines and Thailand, it pays better to be a politician or army officer than a businessman. In Iran or anyplace where religious know nothings are in control, being a traditional community religious leader is less dangerous. It leads to respectability power and a good standard of living. You must match your personality and talents to a community that appreciates (or at least tolerates) you. Thus, the question to be concerned with is not "Where is the world heading?" but rather, "Where in the world should I be heading?" The world's communities are heading in a myriad of different directions -- all at the same time. This is where the PT concept comes into play. By identifying several countries or communities where your favourite diversions or perversions are socially acceptable, you will avoid going to jail. If you like to smoke grass, do it in the Netherlands where it is legal. Obviously if you enjoy booze, don't go to the Muslim world. The key is to go to those locations where you can legally and openly do what you love most. If you want to earn a lot of money, or have power over other people, there are places in the world where you are far more likely to succeed than other's. Having more than one passport, and an open mind is all that you need to make that vital difference to the amount of 'quality' you get out of life. You can be a Bad Guy! It doesn't really matter that ecologists make life difficult for real estate developers in your particular suburb. There are plenty of nice places in the world to develop (or depending one one's point of view, despoil). Ecology isn't fashionable in Africa. Even if you are a homicidal maniac, you can always find some place in the world to be hired as a mercenary and hack away at innocent victims. And if you don't want to be an innocent victim, as a PT you can always go and live somewhere that is relatively safe from violent crime (like Monaco, New Zealand, Japan or Liechtestein). It is silly (in my opinion) to say thing like "individual freedom" is being eroded all over the world. It simply isn't true. There are different sorts of freedom and different sorts of slavery going on in hundreds of different places. One can have a Swiss Family Robinson sort of freedom by becoming hermits on an uninhabited island. Living with or near other people always involves some compromises and some advantages. My idea of an ideal place to live is where I pay little or no taxes, don't have to risk getting my head shot off in any wars and I have a first class Chinese take-away nearby. We can get what we want by living in any one of a dozen prosperous tax havens. As a PT, you can expand your place of living options to virtually any locality. Unless you are an American, you needn't renounce and you don't even need two passports. Australian PTs live invisibly in New Zealand and Kiwis live in Oz. Any European can live indefinitely and invisibly in any other European country. The PT, being perceived by local cops and bureaucrats (if perceived at all) as a "Passing Through Tourist" who minds his own business, keeps a low profile, and avoids trouble. It is inconceivable that any other member of my family could ever be conscripted into any military service, jailed for any offence, or sent a bill for income tax. In any of the places I have lived as a PT over the dozen years, if there was the merest whiff of trouble, I was off like Bambi. The only time I had to move was when I made the mistake of confiding my PT status to my mail-drop operator. To be a successful PT, your status and PT life should be your most closely guarded secret. But that's my point of view. General Colin Powell would no doubt say that he found freedom and a satisfying career in the military when other doors of opportunity were shut to him because of his race or background. General Powell is not a PT and surely wouldn't want to join our ranks any more than we would want to join the US army. Fact to remember; most people in the world are not PT material. Over half are directly or indirectly employed or supported by the government! They wouldn't go for a PT style existence even if they could. If they thought about us, which we hope they won't, it would be to classify PTs as Penitentiary Targets. Not even all millionaires are potential PTs. An individual (one of my consulting clients) became a PT and bitterly regrets it. He cashed out of a multi-million dollar business, obtained another passport, picked up all his chips and moved to another country where he took up residence with one of the world's most beautiful and pleasant women. Yet he complains that his kick in life was having the prestige (and problems) that came with a lot of employees, a huge income, and a big, visible lifestyle. His old life included recognition he misses. Stuff like giving parties for the local lights, photos and a mention in the town's society pages. "Now", he says, "I am a rich nobody!". He finds the PT life boring. How about you? Unlike this client, once I had enough money to live well, I found more satisfying things to do than running a business. My business career was a stepping stone, not something I wanted to do until I croaked in my office swivel chair. It was no thrill or satisfaction to spend most of my time defending inevitable private lawsuits and fighting public regulatory agencies. I found being a recognised local celebrity was a royal pain in the butt. Obviously there are different strokes for different folks. It's also a function of age. At 20-35 maybe you need to make your mark on the world. At 55 maybe you love and read more. Princess Di (who is younger than the typical age at which people decide to become PTs) apparently most of all, fears being sidelined out of the public eye. This writer feels the other way 'around'. Why? For lots of reasons. One is that people in the public eye are envied. There are and always have been non-entities lurking around. They want to harm those they envy. Little punks with lethal weapons stalk the rich and famous. Other threats are litigants, bureaucrats or journalists who can and will cut you down with lethal paperwork. Notoriety, display or anything that attracts envy (or the other side of the coin, admiration) is to be avoided, at least by myself. Look at what happened to John Lennon. He never hurt anyone! The guy who shot him had no connection with him at all. Even a flash car is a dangerous possession. My personal experience is that when I drove a ten year old sturdy and reliable rustbucket, I never once had a problem. But, upon trading it for a shiny new red Mazda sports car, the perceived glamour of this car, attracted vandals, even in Monaco. As a result of my own personal experiences, my PT rule is to no longer partake of any conspicuous (i.e. visible) consumption. No flaunting of wealth or possessions, period. That doesn't mean that I don't go to Joel Robushon's, the world's best restaurant in Paris, or get a high price massage. You can, and maybe you should, rent a high priced apartment in a high security building. Going out for a long walk with my lady-love, my rule is she doesn't drip diamonds (not even fake ones) nor gold chains. Neither of us wears an expensive watch. Nor does she wear form fitting sexy clothes. We make a big effort to look like poverty personified: Mr and Mrs Dumpy, stumbling out for their evening shuffle. Result? No unwelcome attention! How much dough do you need? One clear requirement for PT freedom and mobility is either a net worth that enables you to live off your assets, or a portable occupation that allows you to earn money without licenses, permits or a permanent place of business. In my travels I've met street musicians, computer programmers and English teachers who are PTs though they may not no it. My report "PT", identifies a lot of portable jobs. The outlook for PTs is good. Even if places like the U.S.A. attempt to impose an exit tax on assets, there will always be ways for people, who make an effort, to move themselves and most of their assets to another country. In the old South Africa, rich people who wanted to expatriate assets and themselves often build yachts. They bought art works, jewellery, stamp collections and other portable wealth. Then they simply sailed off into the stars. A small percentage but large number of Germans and Italians (Jewish and otherwise) were able to exit Europe for the U.S.A. and South America. They saw (as almost anyone could see ) that war was in the air and things were going to get worse before they got better. People killed or imprisoned by governments usually have years of warning and plenty of signals that it is time to leave. Don't be a Prisoner of your Possessions. "Once we begin using material products to define ourselves, we are doomed to be on an endless treadmill of dissatisfaction". Erich Fromm - in his book "To Have or To Be", 1979. A good friend of mine who was in the midst of a crisis didn't leave. Why? Because his wife insisted on staying with her old friends, furniture and crockery. He will loose is freedom if he allows this foolishness. Another friend said he'd rather go to jail for twenty years than be separated forever from his old gang. Their is an old French saying "Chaque un à son gout". Each to his own taste. Indeed, I prefer to be "Prepared Thoroughly". The Only Certainty is Change. Some people (probably the vast majority) think that the centre of the universe is their home town. They actually think that they couldn't make it, or be happy anywhere else. Generations of people stay in hell holes or refugee camps where life itself is a terrible struggle. It is clear to them (from other who do escape), that a little effort and initiative would make a new life possible. But the majority don't make the move. They don't seek to better themselves. Why? The vast majority prefer the certainty of misery to the uncertainty of change. Perceptions. For people living in relatively prosperous countries like today's U.S.A. or Scandinavia, some of the most wealthy and privileged will perceive that they are slaves living in gulags, birds in guilded cages. It is clearly a question of perception. But by becoming a PT and taking advantage of the opportunities available, any person can physically live wherever they want and escape most of the perceived negatives in their life. Finding freedom in an unfree world is possible if you simply decide what it is that you want to avoid, and what is important to you. Then, you take the steps to go where you want and do the things you want to do. You Can Go Back to Where You Started From! A very wealthy American guy named Dart who made his billions from foam coffee cups must have read 'PT'. But for all his billions he didn't get any intelligent advice on his PT transition. He moved to Belize. Had he spoken to me, I'd have told him that Belize was a dump. It would be one of the last places a wealthy PT would invest or deal with government officials. Dart apparently wanted to emulate one of the characters in the 'Passport Report' who ultimately returned (as a tax free diplomat) to his original U.S.A. place of residence. So Dart got his Consul General appointment from Belize. Then the U.S.A. wouldn't recognise him in his new role. His main problem? He didn't do his programme in a quiet and low profile way. Whilst I never met Mr Dart, I imagine he used high priced big lawyers and accountants. This modus operandi almost guarantees litigation and problems. A future PT doesn't disclose his PT intentions to anyone in his home country, especially lawyers, accountants, politicians, journalists, or potentially hostile ex-wives. We won't go over the motivations of all of these categories but a lawyer's interest is in making continuing fees and getting publicity to generate new future clients. This is exactly what a PT needs to avoid. The big move, when it comes, is essentially a divorce from the system. It's an annulment from the old country's bureaucrats (government employees), lawyers (officers of the court) and accountants (IRS collection agents). It should cut you off physically from any potential litigants, especially alimony seeking women. Dart could have quietly moved his money to safe havens so that Big Brother couldn't ever figure out what was where. His expatriation would have been handled with name changes in such a way as to make him invisible. He apparently has no backup passports besides Belize and no respectable countries where he could live. Although he can still do it, as part of the process, he should have made deals with desirable first rate countries for passports. His new home country, Belize, is a place where politicians milk a beached billionaire dry. The easily purchased Belize passport might have been alright as one of several PT flags, but Belize is not a country where you actually wish to live or have any assets. Dart needs better advice. It is relatively easy to get a passport, by investment, ancestry or marriage in several countries of the European Union. The same is true of Canada, Singapore, Australia, or New Zealand. If a chap like Dart knew this, why should he chose a bung-hole like Belize, and why would he handle his affairs in such a way that muck-raking journalists could expose him and point fingers to louse up his PT plans. It is probable that he could still change course. To Summarise: Don't waste time on meaningless speculations by trying to figure out what will happen in the world over the next 2000 years. Fine if you want to write a book of predictions for which there is always a market. But for your own personal use there is no point in trying to figure out where the world his going politically, socially or economically. There is not even the hope of getting any useful answers. The only answer is that everything will change. A "PT" is Pragmatic. The PT mentality merely asks "Am I happy with what I am? Do I enjoy who I'm with and doing what I do?" If the answer is "No" (to any question), the next step is to make changes. Start by reading, or re-reading my 'PT' Reports. The answer to your future lies in asking yourself, the right question. Making predictions for the long term future is not necessary. The very essence of being a PT is staying prepared for the unexpected and unpredictable changes. It is only necessary to 'see' the options and choose. The way forward is in your control, so stay in control and have a happy and fruitful life. Just a PT | | Friday, January 23rd, 2009 | | 4:06 pm |
| | Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 | | 12:47 pm |
Речь 44-го Президента США Барака Обамы (в оригинале)
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.  That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction. This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do. Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government. Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good. As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace. To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it. As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)." America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. God Bless America! --- http://www.whitehouse.gov--- | | Sunday, December 21st, 2008 | | 10:37 am |
Всем Приятных Праздников и Счастливого Нового Года 2009!
Дорогие друзья, что-то я здесь на рыбалке засиделся. А как говорит корейская поговорка "В птицу, которая сидит на одном и том же месте, очень легко попасть из ружья". Постепенно перемещаюсь на англоязычную сторону ведения дневников, так сказать, двигаюсь в направлении the Dark Side of the Moon.  Благомыслия - Благословия - Благоденствия всем Вам во всех делах и начинаниях Ваших в Новом Году! Моё поздравление-тост будет очень простым и коротким на этот раз: "Чтобы всем, всё и всегда!" Michael B --- http://mb7art.wordpress.com--- | | Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 | | 11:35 am |
Salzburg
 Salzburg
Originally uploaded by mb7artSalzburg is the third most beautiful city in Europe! Over 32,000 readers of the American travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller chose Salzburg, together with Venice, Florence and Rome, as the third most beautiful city in Europe.
http://squidoo.com/visit-Salzburg
To visit Salzburg is to delve into a world of beauty, a magnificent past and an exciting present. No matter how you encounter this world-famous city for the first time, it will always be a very special experience. Located in the "heart of Europe", Salzburg is easily accessed from all directions.
http://squidoo.com/visit-Salzburg
Welcome to the city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Salzburg Festival and the magnificent buildings that dominate its unique cityscape. The harmony between the architecture and the landscape with its mountains and lakes captivates visitors by providing an unparalleled atmosphere. Experience the charm and splendor.
Maybe it will be love at first sight.
http://squidoo.com/visit-Salzburg
Who knows?
Michael B
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http://squidoo.com/lensmasters/mb7art
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| | Monday, March 3rd, 2008 | | 11:45 am |
Старинный Нелегитимно-Интимный Русский Обычай
Выборы президента России и их результаты заведомо нелегитимны. Об этом в эфире "Эха Москвы" заявил бывший советник президента России по экономическим вопросам, старший научный сотрудник Института Катона Андрей Илларионов. По его словам, это связано с тем, что "не соблюдены требования, принципы и критерии, характерные для демократического общества, не соблюдены условия демократических выборов, в частности, наличие выбора и свободной прессы". Как заявил Илларионов, "если бы в выборах участвовали Буковский, Рыжков, Каспаров, Сечин, Иванов, то победитель таких выборов имел бы право называться легитимным". По мнению Илларионова, Россию стоит "на пороге крупнейшего кризиса власти и всей политической системы страны". Ранее Илларионов заявлял, что после отставки Путина в России по-прежнему будет превалировать путинизм, то есть "устойчивый уровень национализма и агрессии, направленной на людей внутри страны и вне ее пределов". "Мы говорим о философии и политике агрессии по отношению к российским людям, соседям России, другим странам в мире", - сказал Илларионов. По его словам, "это не связано с одним конкретным человеком, это политика группы людей, организации, которая существовала в стране почти столетие". Говоря о возможности изменений политической системы России после прихода к власти Дмитрия Медведева, Илларинов выразил сомнение в том, что "человек, ставший президентом, может поменять всю систему". "Важен не конкретный человек, важна корпорация - в ней больше полумиллиона человек или еще больше. Неважно, кто займет пост президента. Важно, что у корпорации сосредоточена вся власть", - добавил он. Current Music: любезно-приторный похоронный марш | | Sunday, February 24th, 2008 | | 12:10 pm |
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10 стереотипов об Америке. Деконструкция. (Николай Халезин)
Америка – это страна, которая дает такую почву для создания ее стереотипного восприятия, какую вряд ли дают все страны мира вместе взятые. Отобрав десяток из них, я решил попытаться их деконструировать.  Стереотип 1. «В Америке нет вкусной еды – вся еда синтетическая. Все американцы питаются фаст-фудом и постоянно посещают закусочные Макдональдс». Абсолютная неправда. Америка – страна процветающего ресторанного бизнеса, и практически в каждом американском городе вы найдете весь географический спектр ресторанов – от украинской кухни до тайской. Равно, как и найдете рестораны разной ценовой политики. Но, если в большинстве стран разбежка в ценах ресторанных меню может достигать коэффициента 3.0, а то и 7.0 (в дешевом ресторане бифштекс стоит 5 условных единиц, а в соседнем, дорогом, 5х3=15 у.е.), то в Америке этот коэффициент в абсолютном большинстве ресторанов вряд ли превысит 1.5. Конечно, здесь можно встретить и рестораны, где в меню вовсе не указаны цены. Там можно выпить шампанского по тысяче долларов за бутылку и вволю наесться черной икры. Но таких ресторанов немного и рассчитаны они на специфических клиентов, численность которых вряд ли превысит 3% населения. Основной массив инфраструктуры общественного питания рассчитан на средний класс, т.е. на большинство населения. Американцы мало готовят сами, отчасти из-за того, что экономят время, отчасти из-за отсутствия традиций. Во многих семьях принято заказывать еду из близлежащих ресторанов. Обходится это немногим дороже, чем готовить самому. Палитра учреждений фаст-фуда в штатах очень широка, но не все точки быстрого питания выглядят как закусочная Макдональдс. К примеру, если взять сети Taco Bell's или Denny's, так они и вовсе напоминают дешевые, но рестораны. А некоторые китайские buffets, построенные на принципе «шведского стола», удивят европейского туриста тем, что здесь можно за 10 долларов наесться тигровых креветок в кисло-сладком соусе с побегами молодого бамбука на пять лет вперед. Именно в Америке мне удалось за две недели скинуть без особых усилий больше 5-и килограмм. А вообще-то, в Америке рестораны с невкусной едой или маленькими порциями вряд ли продержатся на плаву хоть один сезон. Стереотип 2. «В Америке все безобразно толстые», или другой вариант – «Америка – страна длинноногих блондинок с пышными бюстами». И то, и другое – чушь. Да, в штатах хватает полных (и безобразно полных) людей. Но вряд ли большинство стран мира отличаются от Америки в лучшую сторону в этом вопросе. Когда-то мне бросилось в глаза большое количество полных молодых девушек в Британии, то же самое касается мужчин в немецкой провинции, или чехов в пражских пивных. У американцев этот факт больше бросается в глаза из-за того, что большинство активных (читай – «стройных») граждан ездит в машинах, где вряд ли разглядишь их фигуру. Люди небогатые, предпочитающие чизбургер на завтрак, обед и ужин, ходят по городу и повышают коэффициент заметных полных людей. Еще одна закономерность Америки – абсолютная зависимость количества полных людей от количества населения в городе. Чем больше город, тем активнее жизнь, и тем меньше средний вес горожанина. Так же закономерно и то, что средний вес персоналии увеличивается по мере приближения к бедному району. Еще один фактор повышения количества полных людей – принадлежность к определенному штату: если в Нью-Йорке или Чикаго большинство населения похоже на рысачащих грейхаундов, то в Калифорнийской провинции больше напоминают неспешных английских бульдогов. Причина разницы проста – в Калифорнии не принято перемещаться пешком – здесь можно на протяжении нескольких километров пути не встретить ни одного идущего человека. Касательно «блондинок с пышными формами» – тут ситуация более комична. Однажды, на мой шутливый вопрос, заданный одному американскому коллеге о том, почему я не вижу толпы пышногрудых красоток на улицах Орландо, он ответил: «Их здесь нет – они все собраны в одном из павильонов студии Colambia Pictures». В этой шутке, как и во многих других, «есть доля правды». Красивые девушки в Америке гораздо быстрее устраивают свою жизнь, чем некрасивые. Впрочем, полагаю, этот принцип касается и других стран. А, «устроив жизнь», они начинают работать на телевидении, в рекламе, кино, шоу-бизнесе и т.д. Работать в этих сферах приходится много, а потому и по улицам гулять времени остается мало. Надо сказать, привлекательные мужчины в Америке тоже праздно по улицам не шатаются – помимо перечисленных профессий для привлекательных женщин, их ждут: служба в армии и полиции, а также игра в ведущих клубах хоккейной, баскетбольной, бейсбольной и футбольной лиг. Стереотип 3. «Улыбка американцев фальшива, а чувства показные и неискренние». Это не так. Американцы, в большинстве своем, люди дружелюбные, уравновешенные и очень доверчивые. Их улыбка – это воспитанное веками уважение к ближнему и отсутствие какой бы то ни было агрессии. Данный тезис следует рассматривать в отрыве от событий, связанных с изгнанием индейцев со своих территорий или гражданской войной. Американцы – обладатели чисто островного восприятия окружающей жизни. Они могут радоваться как дети, увидев самый большой в мире хот-дог, впасть в истерику, выиграв в лотерею 20 долларов, и заплакать навзрыд, увидев в кино смерть главного героя. Стоит встретиться взглядом с американцем, как он начинает улыбаться, демонстрируя свое хорошее отношение к тебе. А если ты ответишь тем же, то запросто можешь заслужить комплимент, которые американцы говорят постоянно. Комплимент может касаться всего, чего угодно – от цвета кроссовок до прически. Он ни в коем случае не станет лицемерить, называя плохие кроссовки хорошими, а просто выберет что-то, что ему действительно понравилось в вашей внешности. Основной принцип американцев, воспитываемый с детства – «подари ближнему хорошее настроение, и кто-то подарит его тебе». Стереотип 4. «Американцы жадные – они платят в ресторанах каждый сам за себя Да, американцы платят в ресторанах каждый сам за себя, но к жадности это не имеет никакого отношения. Скорее, это мера предосторожности от возникающих подчас недоразумений. Причин возникновения недоразумений может быть несколько: девушка не хочет, чтобы молодой человек подумал, что она не может заплатить за себя; два друга будут до остервенения спорить о том, кто же заплатит; один человек не хочет попадать даже в малую зависимость от другого… Да мало ли может быть причин. Но американцы, вопреки стереотипному представлению, частенько платят друг за друга. И тут существует множество моделей определения правил игры: от «я тебя приглашаю» (обозначающее – «я плачу») до «выпивка с меня». А вот фраза «может быть пообедаем в четверг?» обозначает одно – каждый будет платить за себя. Многие европейцы с удовольствием переняли эту дипломатическую игру, устав от бесконечных раздумий – «интересно, а кто сегодня будет платить за ужин?». Особый разговор – гостеприимство американцев. Оно отличается от славянского по форме, но очень схоже по содержанию. Американцы умеют не просто дарить подарки, но и обставлять дарение так, чтобы оно запомнилось на всю жизнь. Именно они изобрели тот самый surprise, когда человек входит в дом в кромешной темноте, свет загорается, и в комнате истошно орут два десятка гостей, которых ты не приглашал на свой день рождения. Перед рождеством американские семьи выезжают в супермаркеты для покупки подарков. У каждого главы семьи в руках список, который иногда не помещается на одной странице – это список родных и друзей, которым нужно подарки купить. И, как правило, подарки здесь весомы и приятны, в отличие от многих семей Западной Европы, где запросто можно получить от свекрови на рождество яйцерезку из магазина «Все за один евро». Стереотип 5. «Американцы хотят захватить мир» Этот стереотип держится на желании большинства стран иметь перманентного врага, на которого легко списать собственные промахи в политике и экономике. Демонизируя 300-миллионную нацию и называя один сегмент политической элиты «американцами», средства массовой информации и отдельные политические деятели ряда стран выстраивают таким образом защиту от собственного населения, которое, в противном случае, могло бы спросить: «а почему, собственно, мы так хреново живем?». А так никто вопросов не задает, «зная», что в бедах всех стран виновата Америка – «мир желтого дьявола», «страна, мечтающая поработить мир», «край, где правила жизни диктует военщина»… Но даже если взять иракскую кампанию, откровенно слабо (если не сказать «бездарно») проведенную администрацией Буша, мы увидим, что самый мощный антивоенный протест был именно в Америке: стотысячные демонстрации, участие мировых звезд кино и музыки, бесчисленное количество акций протеста… И это тоже были «американцы, мечтающие о мировом господстве»? Нет, это были собственно американцы – жители Соединенных Штатов Америки, которым так же, как и гражданам других стран, не нравится, что их соотечественники где-то погибают за сомнительные интересы. Слабым звеном американской политики зачастую являются дипломаты. Не хочу «чесать их всех под одну гребенку», потому как довелось, да и доводится, общаться и с профессиональными американскими дипломатами. Но, тем не менее, американская дипломатия зачастую пополняется специалистами достаточно низкого уровня подготовки. И виной тому востребованность лучших кадров внутри страны – еще одна черта типично «островного» государства. Политические обобщения вообще вещь опасная. Именно они привели к тому, что ошибки правящей элиты экстрапалируются на нацию, при том, что сама нация вовсе не разделяет взгляды этой самой элиты. Американский народ не достоин такого отношения, ведь именно он во все исторические периоды исправлял ошибки своего руководства, будь то Уотергейт, война во Вьетнаме или расовая сегрегация. Стереотип 6. «Америка – очаг разврата» С этой мыслью мы прожили едва ли не всю жизнь, наблюдая в голливудских фильмах как главный герой пьет неразбавленный виски в стриптиз-баре. Мы представляли, что, по прилету в Америку, проститутки будут встречать нас прямо на взлетной полосе нью-йоркского аэропорта La Guardia. Но, проехав все Соединенный Штаты, ты можешь не только не увидеть живую проститутку, но и не встретить вывески «Стриптиз-бар». Америка – пуританская страна. Здесь тебе могут влепить штраф в несколько сот долларов за то, что ты раздел догола на пляже своего полуторагодовалого сынишку, мотивируя взыскание тем, что ты «провоцировал педофильские наклонности у отдыхающих». Здесь могут лишить лицензии магазин за то, что один из номеров журнала Playboy оказался на его прилавке не запечатанным в целлофановый конверт. Здесь могут закрыть ночной клуб после того, как в зале обнаружили молодого человека, которому не исполнилось 21-го года. Иногда пуританство здесь зашкаливает, и тогда Америка являет миру казусные судебные процессы и нелепые скандалы. Пожалуй, только здесь президентом не может стать человек, переживший развод, и только здесь измена президента жене может вызвать слушания в Конгрессе. Это кардинально отличает Штаты от Франции или Германии, где недавние главы государств переживали за свою жзнь по 3-4 развода. Стереотип 7. «Американцы – ограниченная, слабо эрудированная нация» Американская эрудиция в корне отличается от эрудиции европейской, или, к примеру, славянской. Здесь преподаватели в школе или университете не пытаются впихнуть в голову школьника или студента 40 томов зазубренной «Большой советской энциклопедии». Здесь пытаются научить другому – методикам сбора информации и алгоритмам работы. Да, американский студент может не знать, какой композитор написал оперу «Хованщина», но он легко сформулирует алгоритм нахождения данной информации, если она ему понадобится. Американцы легко усваивают полезную информацию, и абсолютно не воспринимают бесполезную. Если среднему американцу рассказать о том, что можно разбавлять бензин, чтобы на этом заработать, он недоуменно ответит: «так машина же будет плохо ездить», после чего полностью потеряет интерес к теме, поскольку сочтет ее алогичной и бесполезной. Подобная избирательность плохо сказывается на общей эрудиции, но прекрасно – на подготовке специалистов. К примеру, медицинское образование здесь длится 11 лет, не считая перманентных курсов повышения квалификации. Кстати, внутренняя дисциплина американцев иногда принимает довольно непривычные для нас формы. Один наш американский друг отказался смотреть DVD, привезенный из Беларуси, по причине того, что он не был лицензионным. И это была не поза, а следствие привычки, привитой ему обществом на протяжении всей жизни. Общаясь с американцами, узнаешь много нового. Но, как правило, в отличие от славянского мировосприятия, эта информация лежит вне сферы политики. Американцы получают информацию, пользуясь самыми передовыми механизмами передачи информации. Оснащение музеев, библиотек и технических центров здесь самое современное в мире, а караваны желтых школьных автобусов, бесконечно подвозят детей на лекции и экскурсии. Стереотип 8. «Америкой управляет военно-промышленный комплекс» Это стереотип, привитый нам с детства. «Американская военщина» – самый мягкий из эпитетов, предложенный нам советским телевидением в определении военно-промышленного комплекса. На протяжении десятилетий нам «объясняли», что именно американский ВПК едва ли не назначает президентов этой страны. На деле же все значительно прозаичнее – Америкой управляют американцы. Именно они выбирают президента, досконально зная его биографию. И именно ознакомление с биографией кандидата в президенты позволяет точно определить с кем связан кандидат – с «военщиной», топливно-энергетическим лобби, финансистами или кинематографом. Для того, чтобы население сделало правильный выбор, работают журналисты, доставая из шкафов кандидатов в президенты, припрятанных там скелетов. Конечно, случаются и ошибки. Как недавняя, когда кандидат принадлежал к топливно-энергетическому лобби. Население полагало, что эта принадлежность понизит цены на топливо внутри страны, а на деле она их повысила, поскольку президент оказался не покупателем, а продавцом. «Американская военщина» стоит в очереди за финансированием точно так же, как и любая другая датируемая сфера деятельности в Америке. Другое дело, что лобби у них посильнее и поэффективнее, чем, например, у сферы культуры или пенсионных фондов. Да и численность населения, занятого в ВПК и косвенно к нему относящемся, значительно больше, чем, скажем, в сельском хозяйстве. Вдумайтесь в цифры: 80% всей сельскохозяйственной продукции,потребляемой США, производится в Калифорнии, при этом, в сельскохозяйственном секторе Калифорнии занято лишь 5% населения штата. Какое уж тут лобби? Но, как бы не работало лобби, а американцы выбирают президента абсолютно прозрачно и самостоятельно. И подчас это происходит не в пользу военных, а из чувства протеста по отношению к военным кампаниям, ведущимся властями. Стереотип 9. «Американцы считают, что все открытия сделаны в США» На самом деле так считают на американцы, а мы считаем, что они так считают. На деле же, обратившись к американцу с вопросом о том, кто сделал то или иное открытие, в большинстве случаев ты получишь ответ: «не знаю, надо посмотреть в справочнике». А если ты продолжишь дискуссию, заявив: «это сделал…», можешь в ответ получить просьбу рассказать об этом поподробнее. Американцы лучше других наций умеют воспевать своих героев, гордиться достижениями страны и восторгаться талантами. Но у них начисто отсутствует чисто славянская черта – разрывать героев на страны и штаты. Любой американец знает из какой страны пошел его род, и при встрече с удовольствием об этом расскажет, подчеркнув, «мои бабушка и дедушка приехали из Беларуси – там есть такой город Слуцк». А на вопрос «ты не знаешь, откуда Уэйн Гретцки?», скорее всего ответит «к сожалению, я не знаю откуда приехала его семья». Страна, состоящая из 95% эмигрантов, по определению не упирает на то, что все открытия принадлежат ей. В этих вопросах американцы абсолютно толерантны и не амбициозны. Но если вы скажете бостонцу, что New England Patriots слабее New-York Giants, вы можете услышать такой разбор нью-йоркской команды, от которого вам захочется перейти на обсуждение темы «так кто же изобрел радио?». Стереотип 10. «Я не люблю Америку» Эту фразу я слышал десятки, если не сотни, раз. И всегда в ответ я задавал один и тот же вопрос: «А ты там был?». В 99% случаев ответ был следующий: «Нет, и не хочу». Тяжело спорить с людьми, знающими о предмете понаслышке; еще тяжелее, знающими об этом предмете со слов предвзятых журналистов или политиков. Америку вряд ли возможно не любить. Во-первых, потому, что она разная, как лоскутное одеяло; во-вторых, чтобы познать ее, нужны десятилетия прямого контакта, а не набор пожелтевших советских газетных вырезок; и в-третьих, это просто страна – со своими достоинствами и недостатками. Николай Халезин - глава и режиссер "Свободного театра", Беларусь Сайт "Свободного театра" - http://dramaturg.org/ЖЖ Николая Халезина - http://kilgor-trautt.livejournal.com/ Current Music: Nat King Cole, "Route 66" | | Monday, January 21st, 2008 | | 2:42 pm |
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