Borderland Edition

It’s sad and funny that my Internet connection was better in Ukraine than it is in Keenesburg, Colorado.

Reading an article about the upcoming “elections” in Russian (March 2nd) and the dangerous problem in Russia (and Ukraine) regarding gas explosions and outdated infrastructure, I can understand why people expose themselves to such a deadly situation.

“We have reason to affirm that people are using gas stoves to heat their flats,” he said. “The most elementary safety measures are being violated.” […] Russia’s heating system, which dates back to the Soviet era, doesn’t allow people to regulate the temperature in their apartments. While some buildings are so overheated that people open their windows to let in cold air, less fortunate residents must huddle under blankets throughout the winter — a bitter irony, considering Russia’s vast energy resources. […] Many don’t realize the danger of using gas stoves for warmth. Those who do are often willing to take the risk. Gas is charged according to a fixed monthly fee regardless of consumption; plugging in an electric heater would be significantly more expensive.

Living through a Ukrainian winter I often used the gas stove to heat my frigid apartment. Peace Corps provided us with electric heaters but they didn’t work very well and caused a huge surge in our electric bill, which we had to pay ourselves if over the alloted amount specified by PC. There was a gas explosion in Dnipropetrovsk while I was living there which blew apart a ten-story apartment building and killed numerous people. While winter in Colorado means great skiing and boarding, the winter months in Russia/Ukraine are harsh experiences that require creativity to stay warm.

For Voters, Basic Comforts Of Home Still An Illusion [RFE/RL]

Choices. Decisions. Each one affects other parts of our lives, other people in our lives, and sometimes the world at large. Last weekend I was reading a book on economics called Naked Economics. The author was discussing the economics of choice and the utility derived from various decisions. One of the more amusing discussions was about babies flying (free, I think) on planes and the benefit that it is to the parent of the child. While the parent receives utility from bringing the young lass along on the trip, the rest of the passengers receive the negative consequence of being forced to listen to some kid crying for hours. I was sitting behind one of these little terrors as I read that part, so the point was quite poignant.

The next president of the great U.S. of A. will be chosen this year. That’s a big decision that will affect the entire world in some way. It will definitely affect all of the low quality authors who will need to find a new person to bash in their wacky books. I hadn’t really thought of mentioning US politics here but I just read another PCV’s blog and him expressing his man crush on Obama, so I thought I’d throw in my comment as well.

Every decision takes us down a different path, especially in our 20s I’m discovering. Some people choose to go the family-route, getting married and making babies. Others continue their education and travel the world. I used to think that one of the choices was selfish and the other was the more noble. After adding a few years of life experience, I now believe that both paths are good in their own way. And I’m also coming to think that it’s difficult to go down both paths. At some point one must choose what is really important to him personally and what sacrifices he will make in choosing that path.

P.S. The picture has nothing to do with the post, but it was a cool picture of Lucas, Terah, and I at Great Falls National Park in Virginia.

P.S.S. As was smartly pointed out, sometimes I don’t chose my words wisely in this medium (ha, or in general I suppose). So I don’t mean all kids are awful blights on the world and when I was a small one, I was indeed the brat who pushed my brother off of hammocks and made my sister cry. For a while I thought my full name was “Mike Stop It” because that’s what I was called so often.

After a couple of fun weeks in our glorious nation’s capital, I returned to Colorado this afternoon. I only got a taste of life in the big city, but I really enjoyed it. It was exciting to ride the metro and people watch. It was encouraging to see people reading articles about Kosovo in The Economist on the bus and hear so many languages just walking down the street.

I had a couple of interviews while in the DC area. One of the interviews was for an interesting position at an NGO, which I’m still waiting to hear back on. The other was at an IT consulting company but I realized an hour into the three hour long interview that I didn’t really want to work there. I thought about leaving after the first hour but decided to stay and have fun with the random questions they asked about the inner workings or MySQL and Java (even though the position posting didn’t mention Java at all).

The best part of the trip was the people I spent time with. I spent more time with my little sister than I had in the past 10 years. I got a guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery from my brother’s girlfriend. I received endless harassment while sleuthing around the city with my new friend Shelley. I caught up with a couple of friends from Peace Corps Azerbaijan.

All in all, it was a great trip and gave me a better vision for the future.

More pictures from Washington DC

I discovered these today. They would have been useful in Ukraine. I have decided I will now live my life based on the following guiding principles.

1. Assume nothing.
2. Never go against your gut.
3. Everyone is potentially under opposition control.
4. Don’t look back; you are never completely alone.
5. Go with the flow, blend in.
6. Vary your pattern and stay within your cover.
7. Lull them into a sense of complacency.
8. Don’t harass the opposition.
9. Pick the time and place for action.
10. Keep your options open.

Here’s one way for guys to get out of buying chocolates and roses for their girl on Feb 14th… ban Valentine’s Day. =)

Every year, officials with the conservative Muslim kingdom’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice clamp down on shops a few days before February 14, instructing them to remove red roses, red wrapping paper, gift boxes and teddy bears. On the eve of the holiday, they raid stores and seize symbols of love.

“Sorry honey, I didn’t buy you roses because… well… it’s illegal.”