George Saunders’s Advice to Graduates

Posted on by

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.

Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.

Or, to look at it from the other end of the telescope: Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth?

Those who were kindest to you, I bet.

It’s a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I’d say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder.

Now, the million-dollar question: What’s our problem? Why aren’t we kinder?

When the going gets tough the jets get going

Posted on by

I was reading in The Kyiv Independent about “Ukrainian oligarchs, businessmen leave country en masse. According to the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet, over 20 private jets left Kyiv on Feb. 13. Over the past two weeks, planes owned by oligarchs Rinat Akhmetov, Victor Pinchuk, businessmen Vadym Novinsky, Vadym Stolar and Vasyl Khmelnytsky all left the country.”

https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/02/13/7323857/

If these geniuses all want to help Ukraine then they can stay away. Yup, don’t come back.

It is fascinating how these parasites who take and take and take are the ones that are leaving. They are not role models and they don’t help anyone. They are actually a big part of the problem. They create no value for the country, they create no jobs, and they are corrupt and twisted. In my simple view, they help no one but themselves. So again, help Ukraine and never return.

Brothers … ?

Posted on by

The situation in Ukraine with the Russian army parking on the Ukrainian border is causing a lot of stress. And yet, Russia has said repeatedly that they are not planning to invade Ukraine. But Western media continues to suggest that an attack could happen any day now. And again, Russia keeps saying they are not not going to invade Ukraine. So what exactly is Russia doing?!

If Russia does invade then isn’t Russia a big fat liar. Who would ever trust Russia again? And why would they attack Ukraine? I understand Russia is not happy about NATO’s expansion over the years but why then attack Ukraine. Attack NATO if you are not happy with them but what has Ukraine done to Russia. Russia does not want Ukraine to join NATO but as it stands Ukraine is not part of NATO so what is the problem. Yes, I know I am over simplifying things but the questions here really are simple. Is Russia going to invade Ukraine and can Mr. Putin really be such a madman. I can’t believe that. I am not getting it. Russia keeps saying they are not planning on invading Ukraine and on the news last night the Americans and the Brits are telling their citizens to leave Ukraine right away. Again, what exactly has Ukraine done to Russia?

Russia says Ukraine is a part of Russia and that they are their brothers. Who kills their brothers ???

Western news suggests that missiles could bomb cities in Ukraine as part of the first Russian strike. This sounds like terrorism. When Israel gets missiles fired at Tel Aviv that is terrorism, but this is not about terrorists. This is about the Russian army. They must have a plan but at this stage no one has a clue what it is.

The biggest disease in the world

Posted on by

Corona finally got us. Felt like a kak flu – feeling better today. Phew. We were lucky. Many people have died from this freakin’ thing.

We have been so scared to catch corona, especially with the Bunster and all, but now we can tick it off the list. We are fully vaccinated and have been so careful but we caught it somehow. And so many people who we know have it too. The corona craziness continues.

A bigger disease in the world though has been around a lot longer and it is far more devastating. It is called greed.

I was in bed for the weekend and was thinking: is greed and selfishness the same thing … ? I looked up on Google and found this: Selfishness is when you want something just for yourself. Greed is when you want more than what you need.

I am a selfish person. But no more selfish than the next person. We live in a selfish world. But I don’t believe I am greedy, or ever have been. And sadly, so many people I have met in my life are very greedy. Doesn’t mean I don’t like them or that they are bad people. But this global greed disease is damaging the world, way more than the corona virus.

I read something on Twitter this week that really got me thinking: Money can’t make rich people happy, but it can make poor people happy.

We all need to give more. After all, the best way to receive it so give. One way to help cure this greed disease is to be more generous. Patience, love, generosity … these all used to be more evident in simpler times. That is my perception.