by soj
Fri Feb 24th, 2006 at 12:24:16 PM EST
Hmmm... re-worded from here.
by soj
Thu Nov 24th, 2005 at 11:48:02 AM EST
From the diaries - whataboutbob
Well I'm in Romania where it's a normal day... but like most Americans, my holidays are mobile. Therefore, from me to you, Happy Thanksgiving.
I'm reminded of a line in the movie "Sweet November" where a friend of the principle female actress says "Happy We Stole Your Land and Killed You Day". That's actually a little tongue in cheek but the truth is that the holiday is based on a friendship post-harvest meal between recent Puritan immigrants and Native Americans. It's since been modified to serve as a symbol of multiculturalistic harmony as well as to promote more shopping for the Christmas season (signed into law 1940 - yep).
Last year I wrote a piece about a tragedy that occurred in my life several years ago. It was a piece which frankly horrified and sickened a lot of people, and therefore I won't repeat it.
But as one of the portable traditions on this day is to give thanks, and to look back at the past year, I can't help but reflect how shocking it is to look through the window of the media at what my country has become.
by soj
Mon Sep 26th, 2005 at 01:30:41 PM EST
I've never been a big fan of fanfare and I'm certainly not changing now. But all of you have been very good to me over the years and I can't quite slip out the door without at least saying goodbye in a decent manner.
by soj
Mon Aug 15th, 2005 at 05:14:39 AM EST
Yesterday I wrote a diary entitled Who Are We to get a sense of where ET readers are coming from. According to the poll, it looks like about 2/3 of us are living in Europe and 30% in America or Canada.
In an effort to further gauge our abilities, I thought it was time to do another poll - this time about the languages we speak.
With the multitude of elections occurring around Europe, it would be great to know who speaks what, to help us translate articles in the local press.
For the purposes of the poll, pick the language you speak BEST.
And yes I realize there are too many languages spoken in Europe to fit in this poll.
English isn't included because I'm assuming we all speak it and/or read it already since we're here ;)
Pax
by soj
Sat Aug 13th, 2005 at 11:27:18 PM EST
As ET is growing in leaps and bounds (yupi!), I thought it was time for an informal and completely unscientific poll to see who we are. Or where we are from.
A lot of us move around and have origins in different places than where we currently live. So for the poll below, just answer where you currently live. If you're on vacation or about to move somewhere, put the place where you will be living.
by soj
Wed Aug 10th, 2005 at 12:05:51 AM EST
So... as you head into work this morning, what's on your mind?
by soj
Sun Jul 17th, 2005 at 07:27:57 AM EST
I was curious exactly what China's been up to in just the past week. Are you curious?
by soj
Thu Jun 30th, 2005 at 08:34:30 AM EST
Two weeks ago, the European Union failed to agree on a budget. Now it looks like some of the newest members have come up with a solution.
by soj
Sat Jun 25th, 2005 at 01:37:16 AM EST
Yesterday morning in my PDB I reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was meeting (in Moscow) with NATO head Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, to press the alliance to ratify the Adapted Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe.
But what does all this mean? What is the treaty (referred to hereafter as the CFE) refer to? And why should anyone care? Obviously most people don't, as this meeting is only being reported in the Russian press. Yet it's one of the most important treaties of our time and absolutely vital to the future of Europe and NATO-Russia relations.
by soj
Wed Jun 15th, 2005 at 10:37:26 PM EST
I thought it'd be fun to create a series of introductory diaries about Europe that everyone can participate in.
One of the most wonderful (and sometimes) confusing things about Europe is all the languages spoken... from the big ones like German or French to the more obscure ones like Romansh, Vlach, or Breton.
While nobody speaks them all, it sure helps when visiting a new place to learn a few words and among the most important are the numbers. How else can you tell the waiter you want three more beers? ;)
Below the fold I'll start with the numbers 1-10 in Romanian. Join the thread and post the numbers that you know, along with how to pronounce them (approximately) in English!
