The decision

I'd vouch for Aksel.

I came upon this decision after a thorough review of our current blogosphere. I noticed that everybody else the deep analytical posts about current issues, the higly articulate language and simply the number of posts. There never was such an intellectually prominent blogger as dear Mr. Erik.

Highway Robbery

Firstly, I'd like to state my ultimate disgust for the phone companies for pulling of all these stunts. Because of an episode of "Pealtnägija", I managed to catch a glimpse of, this post has sprung out of my glorious mind and onto my blog.
Asking money for services not provides is called fraud. Our laws state that up to three years in prison are granted for people committing fraud although companies can only suffer from a fine. Having said that, I would further distress how disappointed I am with this. I should not be charged for services with I have neither ordered nor received. It makes as much sense as your local supermarket charging you for yogurt, if you milk happens to go bad. To be perfectly honest, it
puzzles me, why should they do it anyway. Though I too saw the figures explaining how a phone can blast a little less than 200 000 EEK of a hole in one's wallet, how many people actually pay these bills? Not only are these cases rare but what's more, they also help to build up massive amounts of negative publicity. Nevertheless, everybody seems to be content with sitting on their hands and waiting for some miracle to happen. As a result we, the ordinary folks, have to be increasingly vary of these deceitful companies, hence we are less inclined to look further into various new services provided. Not only leaves this course of actions the consumers dissatisfied but it also is bad for business in general. Thus, I am left puzzling on the motivations of keeping this circus going.

Primaries are stupid

Why? Because they pit candidates mostly on person appeal not merits or policies. The major issues in the democrat campaign have been whether Obama really can understand poor gun-loving folks and whether Hillary is actually a machine. The republican issues, if one still remembers them were quite a lot about how god created earth and how religious one is. This amounts to the idea of us having elections and the main debate would be whether Edgar's eyebrows are pointy enough. There are absolutely no discussions about policy whatsoever. Are the candidates really so similar or the Americans so dumb for them not to realise that? You can count this as another reason why I'm glad I live in Estonia.

Hi, my name is Hillary

Curious, isn't it? Despite the fact that she has snowball's chance in hell to become the nominee yet she is one with the strongest hand. The odds are that if there will be no joint ballot, then Obama will be liquidated. If she chooses to accept his offer, she has a quite definite Vice-Presidential position. If she chooses to decline, the odds are that like Gerard Baker, from Times Online, pointed out :" [She'll be] ready to pick up the baton again in 2012, armed with the most powerful “I told you so” argument in the history of politics". It would be quite hard for Obama to find someone else on the ticket, who would have as much clout as a Clinton. But then again, could he find one?

Another Dilemma

An interesting question caught my eye, the case of Bolivia, or to be more exact, the case of Santa Cruz region holding a referendum demanding for more autonomy. An interesting two pronged problems becomes apparent.

First of all, there will always be differences between regions. One is not supposed to call for autonomy or independence simply because one has to pay more than the neighbour. Can you imagine Harjumaa declaring it's autonomy, because it has to pay for all those poor regions in Ida Virumaa? Could you accept that? I guess not. Moreover, such important decisions should be motivated by a grand irreconsileable differences between ideologies or cultural differences not because of greed.

Then again, if one is forced to endure a maniac for President against one's will, what else is there to do? I'm quite sure that the people living in the suburbs are not too fond of the idea of Greater Tallinn. After all, their votes would be pitted against the entire Savisaar-adoring Lasnamäe. In Bolivia, it is even worse. One the one hand, the history is a lot more complex, but then again wouldn't you want to get out , if there is a deranged socialist coca-lover on the loose?

Another one up for McCain

Hillary and Obama are still at each others throats, but there is something one might easily miss regards to the current situation. Both campaigns are going over and over about the importance of the current primaries and how a win hre or there is crucial to their cause. Actually the battles waged now do not really matter in long run. Why don't they matter, you might ask. I'll tell you why, beacuse they are fought in republican heartlands. The states currently contested such as Indiana and North Carolina are established republican strongholds and there is little reason to believe that they would capitulate especially with the elections appearing to be quite a close match.

Election day, Yay

It seems to be a jolly start for a jolly new chapter in English politics. Labour was obliterated in almost every aspect there is. In the capital, London, the incumbent, Ken Livingstone, was defeated by a man widely known for being a stooge rather than anything else. There was a lot more devastation elsewhere. The Tories achieved more than they had been expecting in but a few constituencies. The conservative Party managed to grab 44% of overall vote, with Labour achieving only a meagre 24%, even losing out to the Liberal Democrats. Though this was more about Gordon Brown U-turns than Tory leadership, this still is a promising start of a brand new era.

A jolly cup of war please?

What is this? A plane, a missile, destruction. Without any further comments or propaganda, the point becomes only too clear.

Does anyone want to guess the Russian reaction? What plane? Where? Why should we have any planes there? At least that was the case according to Times Online.

It is one of those rare occasions, where i have got nothing more too add but simply look dumbfound, simply staring blankly at the screen.

The time, a concept thougt of as arcane or at least unreal.

This extraordinary tale took place somewhere well within the acknowledged path of time, something the general public calls history. A conscious mind would sooner or later find the forced concept of an evenly distributed and uniform flow rather appalling and constricting the normal flow of ideas. However, for obvious reason, that aspect will be ignored as most of the readers are probably not educated enough to delve deeper into how our universe actually works.
It concerns the foundation and the first activities of our most beloved defensive alliance on this side of the galaxy, NATO. The more enlightened ones around have probably also pondered upon the reasons behind forming such a great establishment. I mean, why should some sovereign countries subject their underfunded, understaffed and under equipped armies to some committee who is probably far more interested in Realpolitik than in actual causes which matter. The reason is extra-terrestrial visits. It is not simply possible to defend this tiny blue planet from all those space-beasts, when we refuse to cooperate. it would be all too easy for them to skip from one country to another, while the neighbours a re calmly standing by if not cheering the ruffians on. Simply by refusing crossborders cooperation, our cause is doomed to fail under the onslaught of those pesky newcomers. Claiming that USpotentially devastating attack on not only everything we believe in but also on the species itself. There is no reason for us to expect that some Reticulans would care even a little bit for the survival our our meager kind. That is the reason why we need top grade weapons systems ASAP. All those who dare to try to enter our glorious atmosphere must be set ablaze using various hi-tech means possible. A combo consisting of a few missiles, followed by a few million rounds from an average mini gun and finally toping it off with a touch of napalm, would be desirable.A would be able to handle such an event is a clear underestimation of the powers harnessed by all kinds of galactic monsters. I mean, that it would be stupid to stand alone against such a

Is there a place for Zimbabwe?

Another country somewhere, none of you would find without using a map. Another place turned into a wretched hellhole by a maniacal dictator with far too many complexes to count. Another popular challenger promising to bring peace, prosperity and even more importantly, provisions to the country.

I'm not saying that change is bad. I'm not saying that all those dumb old men should be kept in power till death finally makes them catch up with the reality. Let's just wait a moment before declaring that the world order has been reborn.Though in this case something might actually change.

Unlike many other examples, in Zimbabwe there is a fifth column in the lines of the ruling party. Simply by relying on popular momentum, it is quite hard to get rid of a dug in police state. It is simply far too easy to crush all those pesky dissidents with cold, hard pieces of lead usually called bullets. However, right now, there is dissatisfaction among the ruling party and even an outright challenger accepted by the rank and file members of the party. That, my friends, is the recipe for taking down oppressive regimes.

The deranged leader might keep on yelling all those slogans, but they become empty if there are no means by which to provide the promised retribution. In essence if the police and the army change sides, the fight is quite settled.

All Hail Public Transportation

I know all of you are constantly passing time by whining over shitty public transportation. Sure, there might be a few odd blokes here and there or the serious lack of complementary coctails, but that takes away attention from the main point.

The bus to Tartu has everything but those cocktails. It's comfortable, fast, it's student-friendly AND it's laptop-friendly. Not only Wifi, which is basically a human right, one can even enjoy it when the batterylife is about half an hour. One can just plug oneself in, connect to the network and just make perfect use of ones time. No matter if it's msn, orkut or even plain old work, there is something for everyone.

Now that we have achieved this coveted status for the buses heading for and from Tartu, there is little room left for improvement. We might just one day fit all the buses with the same essential gear. Now that's E-stonia.

Free Tibet

Why should we even care about something taking place so far away? It is not like we have closer ties to them than any random bloke from Kismayo. Nor is it reasonable to expect that just because a few Estonians China will be willing to back off.

Still, sometimes one has to do what is right despite the futility. We did not regain our independence just because a few guys were picketing outside some embassy in Australia. But when we eventually did get what we wanted, those same picketers became useful. They helped to keep the flame of freedom from being completely squashed by the Soviet Union. They still reminded the world that we did and still do exist. So when the time came, we were recognized and treated properly. In addition to moral support during those troubled times.

It is similar about Tibet. If, by chance, the locals would manage to reinstate their rule, they would be welcomed and understood. In law as well as popular opinion, there is a significant difference between a separatist province or an occupied country. Besides, we appreciate that our cause was not forgotten during those terrible decades. I'm sure the tibetans are not any different.

You infidels

It seems the muslims are once more expressing their utter disgust and resenment towards us. And this time, it does not even have anything to do with insolent cartoons and whether it is moral for us to break Islamic laws and ignore their customs.

Apparently His Holiness, Benedict XVI, the current pope residing in Rome, Italy, has insulted the muslims by baptising a muslim. And no, not tule ja mõõgaga. Hey guys, I understand that your religion forbids anyone to renounce their faith but as far as I know, I does not order one to switch off ones brain. The Pope, with all due respect, is the head of another religious movement. Another religious movement, which too believes in enlarging the number of its followers. If he would not do so, then who else would? What is the Pope without religion? Just an Old German fellow. Running a rival religion is all he is about. It is his job to convert others. How can you accept the fact that he exists without accepting the fact that he does the utmost to spread his version of God and friends.

War - how bad it really is?

As you all know by now, 4000th soldier was killed on Sunday. That's 4000 young men have met their untimely death during the now 5 years of war. Can you imagine 4000 coffins in a row somewhere? In order to prevent further casualties the only sensible option is to pull out. War, what is it good for? For security, obviously. By fighting all those militant types in some desert country we keep the fight off our very own green lawn. And that, my friends, is something one can not deny. In other words, their sacrifices keep us safe.

How great are the costs anyway? When one starts to think about, then it seems not really significant. Though every single life is valuable and I know what misery and sadness accompany death, if one looks at it from a larger perspective, there really is no major effect. Do you know how many people get hurt in normal everyday traffic? There were 271 017 casualties reported in 2005 in the UK alone. That is about 743 casualties every single day. Yet nobody advocates banning cars. Now think about it. It is a big sacrifice to the individual who has to cope with his own death, or the loss of a loved one, but is it really that much to ask from the general society? If we are not ready to contribute that to our security, then who is supposed to do it for us?



PS.
This post is about whether it is sensible to withdraw our forces from Iraq right now. This post is NOT about whether we should have been there in the first place.

Winter Darkness

It just did not happen. We are not sending those clown to that competition and acknowledging that they are from Estonia.
I do not care that you are an avid fan or Kivipallur and friends, this is madness. Yes, I am aware that this is not the end of the world or even a really important occasion however, building up an image is more than fancy parades and PR folks. It is about small events which are memorable. Do we really want that thing to the first thing that pops into someone's mind when hearing the phrase Estonia?
I just hope that I'm like the only one who watches this filth. That's the best I can do

Good Gracious

Somebody is feeling hurt once more. Some blokes are kept out of Europe. Why? Because they cause trouble here. It's not only our issue of someone standing next to Kaarli Church, rather an universal problem of foreign infiltration, especially the kind that is hostile towards our sovereignity. They are somewhere between your ordinary spy and a crook. There is no reason to lety either of them enter. Sabotage, hostile propaganda and plain old crime are nothing to be too fond of. In order to keep those un-savoury characters from causing any harm, we simply do lot let them enter the country. It's is exactly the same as if you rather not have those people coming to your house, one do not let them in. But wait, it's not right to do so. Your neighbour calls you a fascist, imperialist and accuses you of ignoring human rights. Don't you remember them saying that your neighbour is the one to choose everything for you, including the people allowed to enter your house? it is the exact same thing only on a bigger scale. But that does obviously bother them.

Naked ladies, my favourite

This post is devoted to everyone's favourite artist who just happens to like painting naked ladies.
Despite being as ancient as it gets, the old man sure does know, what’s left to enjoy in life. The true and simple magnificence of the female form as well as the same irresistibility are something the exhibition had a plenty. The ürgvägi emanating from those female bodies is simply something hard to grasp. The beauty in those figures, whether stretched out or in natural poses is enhanced by the atmosphere surrounding them. The female figure was the central and frankly only object in most of those scenes, which curiously enhanced the surreal energies emanating from the pictures in further.

I did not bother to read the interpretations offered there and on purpose. I just let the art flow through me and do its magic by itself. So all that text is purely based on me and my very own emotional state, not a rephrased text from some art magazine. So that is the cause of the lack of references to the pigeons as the free spirit being mauled by age and women. From my perspective, they were just some birds. One cannot only draw naked women, sometimes one needs to relax as well.

King of the World

So, We are different. We will shape the world around Us. Sure, why not. We have got plenty of ambition. We have greater access to knowledge than anyone has ever had before Us. We are far better informed than anyone has ever been before. Last but not least, We have more issues to deal with than anyone has ever had before. Sounds grand, does it not? Hopefully We’ll be able to actually become active in world affairs. Hopefully the prospect of making the world a better place will not be ruined by some crazy warlord with some missiles. Hopefully We’ll still hold on to our views when We get the chance to implant them. Hopefully this time it will be possible to avoid the usual pit-falls.

All Hail, the King of Romanticism

Though Keats truly is a great poet and all, characterising him till half past 3 really is not my kind of entertainment. Furthermore, trying to be productive with something like 3 hours of sleep is also somewhat of a challenge. The best thing is that the only time to rid myself of the sleep deficit is during the weekend or during the lessons. Thanks to MEP, I’ve managed to get myself quite a big pile of work left to do before the period ends. This included the achievement paper as well as the big German test, some poetry for Merka and I haven’t even mentioned Russian yet. AND I am quite willing to murder anyone, who is going to lecture about time management.

Who's who?

It's disturbing that some mayor wants to have his own foreign policy. It's truly despicable, if that policy is directed against his own country.

It is completely normal for mayors to be active in all kinds of events taking place in their jurisdiction. The problem is the nature of those event. As we all know too well, there is no separation of powers in Russia. There even is very little separation between the state and business. So, just to keep it simple, every Russian of even little importance should be treated as an envoy of the state. At least till proven otherwise. Taking that into consideration, all care should be taken when meeting those people. One should be especially careful of all perceived endorsements of the regime.

Taking that into account, meeting those, in this case quite obvious, envoys, should be done by diplomats following normal protocol. Meeting them in the guise of charity is definitely not the way to do it.