Reading and Thinking About Anna Karenina

    A friend of mine recently re-read this novel, and that made me happy. Or, satisfied in the sense that I have read it, as of October 2021, and it made me happy to know that this friend had re-absorbed it and would bring a new or renewed understanding of it.

    Tolstoy. 

    Tolstoy and I have a strange relationship, as much as a dude in the United States can have with a world-acclaimed and famous writer who died over a hundred years ago. I tried to read his epic War and Peace as a sixth grader, and I was liking it. I knew the characters, I understood the plot, I was digging the history and the sheer knowledge that I, a punk kid at a punk college town middle school was absorbing it!

    I let a teacher dissuade me from continuing. This may have been the beginning of the end of me as a literary figure. Who knows what would have become of me if I had absorbed it as a youth!? Kidding.

    Well, mostly kidding. That experience changed me, or affected me. But, it adds to my pleasure of having read Anna Karenina decades later, and to know that others have conquered it.

    Or if not conquered, at least attempted, and one can say that they read every page.

    Perhaps it seems that there are certain classic pieces in literature that I feel must be read to be a part of today's world. Yes, safe to say that I feel this way.

    Tolstoy is one. Dostoyevsky is another. Russians, both.

    There is more to say and think and say and analyze. Scrutinize. Speculate.

    But, I will let this rest on my and your brain, for now.

    2024. Entering the second year of the war in Ukraine. 

Thinking About Some People from 2012 - Some not On Our Plain in 2024

Thinking About Some People from 2012 - Some not On Our Plane in 2024

    Every 12 years is the Chinese zodiac cycle. Come to find out after many years, for me, considering this zodiac better and more interesting than the Greek one, there are four types of each of the twelve Chinese animals ascribed, that makes them cycle every 60 years. So, there are 48 in total. Which type are you? I am a metal or gold dog.

    There are many ways to experience and measure time.

    As a child, there were times and moments when I would look around the horizons surrounding me, maybe in my backyard, or the nearby forest and park, occasionally with someone else, but usually by myself, and I would think: I am only seven, or nine, or twelve, but I want to remember this moment, and me, forever. I want to recall this precise station in time and who am I and what I am, it be able to retrieve this same picture and slice of time years from now, when I am old, when I am in another time, far in the future.

    I believe that my daughter, now in her twenties, has experienced the same sentiments and thoughts in her youth. She was born in the year of the Snake, and she is a metal or gold snake. Metal and gold is a four-year cycle, yes? But I was born on a 0, and she a 1... Hmmm...

    How we measure and value and catalog time. My adopted grandmother was born February 29, 1901. This was leap year. So, when her body was sixty-four, she was technically only 16. By the time she was supposed to be 90 years old, she would only be 23 and half, by recorded birthday.

    That is an extreme technical example, but you see what I am saying.

    Time is fickle and relative. Mostly relative, as Einstein proved. Or stated and asserted, which fact others have proved.

    Twelve years ago I knew Ron and Ruth, both who have died since. Ron could take hard language tests and pass, it seemed, easily. He was smart, maybe even brilliant. His former bosses were totally impressed with his work and his abilities. He died in December 2016. He had a bigger future ahead of him, but it did not work out that way. He is buried in northern Virginia. Rest in peace, Ron. We certainly miss you, and what you could do, what you could have done.

    Ruth passed in March in 2014. She lived most of her life, and it was pretty good, in my estimation. 

    Now the cycles of time come and go and all of us dragons and tiger and rabbits and snakes march on, be we metal or earth or water or fire.

    I think of others I knew from 2012, who should still be alive and well. Anthony, Daniel, Rodriquez, the blonde guy from Utah, and others. We are around, still, for the next go around.

    Let us make it to and through the next Chinese zodiac, 2036.

    Can we do it? I think so. But we never know.

    Time and timing can be a pickle.

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Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac is made up of 12 animals arranged in order from the rat through to the pig. The order was decided by a race between the animals, organised thousands of years ago by the Jade Emperor of China.

Legend has it that the cat and the rat, who were friends, decided to help each other. They asked the ox, an early riser, to wake them on the morning of the race, but when the sun rose they could not be woken. The ox decided to carry the cat and rat on his back and was crossing a river when the rat woke up. Realising the cat was a faster runner and was sure to win, the rat pushed his friend into the river, jumped off the ox as it reached the riverbank and ran to victory.

The ox finished second and was followed by the tiger (who hopped across the river on the backs of other animals), rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The cat was too late to be included in the zodiac and, according to the Chinese, is still chasing rats and mice to this day.

In the Lunar calendar and Chinese astrology, the years are named for different animals in a 12 year sequence. Your year of birth determines your astrological sign. The Lunar zodiac is an interesting part of Chinese culture and if you are interested in your own sign we can provide a horoscope for $5 - just let us know your name, date of birth and the class you are attending.

Click/tap on thumbnail above for more information

The Year of the Rat

The Year of the Rat has special significance for people born in 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 and 2020.

The Rat is the first Sign of the Chinese Zodiac and is born under the sign of charm. He is intelligent, popular, and loves attending parties and large social gatherings. He has a good understanding of human nature and his advice and opinions are often sought.

The Rat is a hard and diligent worker. He is also very imaginative and is never short of ideas. However, he does sometimes lack the confidence to promote his ideas as much as he should and this can often prevent him from securing the recognition and credit he so often deserves.

The Rat loves to be where there is a lot of action, but should he ever find himself in a very bureaucratic or restrictive environment he can become a stickler for discipline and routine.

Rats are very thrifty and to some, may appear a little mean. This is purely because he likes to keep his money within his family so he can be most generous to his partner, his children, and close friends and relatives.

Throughout his long and eventful life, the Rat will make many friends and will find that he is especially well-suited to those born under his own sign and those of the Ox, Dragon and Monkey.

Famous Rat People: Antonio Banderas, Cameron Diaz, Alexander the Great, Claude Monet and Mozart.

The Year of the Ox

The Year of the Ox has special significance for people born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997and 2009.

The Ox is born under the signs of equilibrium and tenacity. He is a hard and conscientious worker and sets about everything he does in a resolute, methodical and determined manner. He has considerable leadership qualities and is often admired for his tough and uncompromising nature. He knows what he wants to achieve in life and, as far as possible, will not be deflected from his ultimate objective.

The Ox tends to have a calm and tranquil nature, but if something angers him or he feels that someone has let him down, he can have a fearsome temper. He can also be stubborn and obstinate and this can lead him into conflict with others.

Ox people are often deep thinkers and rather studious. They are not particularly renowned for their sense of humour and do not take kindly to new gimmicks or anything too innovative.

Once settled in a job or house, the Ox will quite happily remain there for many years. He does not like change and he is also not particularly keen on travel. He does, however, enjoy gardening and other outdoor pursuits and he will often spend much of his spare time out of doors.

Due to his dedicated and dependable nature, he will usually do well in his chosen career, providing he is given enough freedom to act on his own initiative.

The Ox is particularly well-suited to those born under the signs of the Rat, Rabbit, Snake and Rooster.

Famous Ox People: Louis Armstrong, Napoleon Bonaparte, Jim Carrey, Kate Moss and Johann Sebastian Bach.

The Year of the Tiger

The Year of the Tiger has special significance for people born in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010.

The Tiger is born under the sign of courage. He is a charismatic figure and usually holds very firm views and beliefs. He is strong willed and determined, and sets about most of the things he does with a tremendous energy and enthusiasm.

The Tiger adores challenges and he loves to get involved in anything which he thinks has an exciting future or which catches his imagination. He is prepared to take risks and does not like to be bound either by convention or the dictates of others.

He can be stubborn and obstinate and throughout his life likes to retain a certain amount of independence in his activities and be responsible to no one but himself. He likes to consider that all his achievements are due to his own efforts and unless he cannot avoid it, he will rarely ask for support from others. Despite his self-confidence and leadership qualities, the Tiger can be indecisive and will often delay making a major decision until the very last moment. He can also be sensitive to criticism.

Although the Tiger is capable of earning large sums of money he is rather a spendthrift and does not always put his money to its best use. He can also be most generous and will often shower lavish gifts on friends and relations.

Famous Tiger People: Ptolemy, Richard Branson, Ho Chi Minh, Tom Cruise, Miles Davis and Mel Brooks.

The Year of the Rabbit

The Year of the Rabbit is of particular interest to people born in 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011.

The Rabbit is born under the signs of virtue and prudence. He is intelligent, well mannered, and prefers a quiet and peaceful existence.

The Rabbit is conscientious in most of the things he does and, because of his methodical and ever-watchful nature, he can often do well in his chosen profession. He makes a good diplomat, lawyer, shop keeper, administrator or priest.

The Rabbit will rarely be short of admirers and will often have several serious romances before he settles down. The Rabbit is not the most faithful of signs, but he will find that he is especially well suited to those born under the signs of Goat, Snake, Pig and Ox. Due to his sociable and easy-going manner he can also get on well with the Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Dog and another Rabbit, but the Rabbit will feel ill-at-ease with the Rat and Rooster as both these signs tend to speak their mind and be critical in their comments, and the Rabbit just loathes any form of criticism or unpleasantness.

Another main characteristic of the Rabbit is that the Rabbit has a high rate of reproduction. So for those born in the year of the Rabbit, what is preferred - The more the merrier or Be Careful?

Famous Rabbit people: Orson Welles, Albert Einstein and Queen Victoria.

The Year of the Dragon

The Year of the Dragon is significant for people born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012.

The Dragon is born under the sign of luck. He is a proud and lively character and has a tremendous amount of self-confidence. He is also highly intelligent and very quick to take advantage of any opportunities that occur and will do well in practically anything which he attempts.

He does not suffer fools gladly and will be quick to criticize anyone or anything that displeases him. He is not renowned for being either tactful or diplomatic in his criticism however he often takes people at their word and can occasionally be rather gullible.

The Dragon is usually very outgoing and is particularly adept at attracting attention and publicity. His views and opinions are very highly valued and he invariably has something interesting and sometimes controversial to say.

He has considerable energy and is often prepared to work long and unsocial hours in order to achieve what he wants. He can, however, be rather impulsive and does not always consider the consequences of his actions. He hates delay and can get extremely impatient and irritable over even the smallest of hold-ups.

The Dragon will often reach the top of his chosen profession. He has considerable leadership qualities and will do well in positions where he can put his own ideas and policies into practice such as politics, show business, senior management and the media.

There are many Dragons who cherish their independence to such a degree that they prefer to remain single. However, they will often have numerous admirers and there are many who are attracted by his flamboyant personality and striking looks. If he does marry, he will usually marry young and will find himself particularly well-suited to those born under the signs of the Snake, Rat, Monkey and Rooster. The Rabbit, Pig, Horse and Goat also make ideal companions. Two Dragons will get on well but things are not so easy with the Ox, Dog or Tiger.

Famous Dragon People: John Lennon, Mae West and Walter Mondale.

The Year of the Snake

The Year of the Snake is of particular significance to people born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013.

Snakes are the emblem of cunning and evil. They are revered owing to their supernatural power. The Snake is born under the sign of wisdom. He is highly intelligent and his mind is forever active. He is always planning and always looking for ways in which he can use his considerable skills. He is a deep thinker and likes to meditate and reflect.

Most Snakes are financially secure provided they don't gamble - they have the distinction of being the worst gambler in the Chinese Zodiac. He can occasionally be ruthless in order to achieve his aims. He cannot bear failure and is a very bad loser.

The Snake is a late starter in life because it often takes him a while to find a job with which he is genuinely happy. The snake makes a good teacher, politician, personnel manager and social adviser.

The Snake is also renowned for his good looks and is never short of admirers. The female Snake in particular is most alluring having style, grace and excellent (and usually expensive) taste in clothes.

Best Friends: Ox, Rooster, Dragon Not Tolerant of: Tiger Famous Snake People: Picasso, Mao Zedong and Abraham Lincoln.

The Year of the Horse

The year of the Horse is of special significance to people born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 and 2026.

The Horse is born under the signs of elegance and ardour. He has a most engaging and charming manner and is usually very popular. He loves meeting people and likes attending parties and other large social gatherings.

He has many interests and involves himself in a wide variety of activities. He can, however, get involved in so much that he can often waste his energies on projects which he never has time to complete. He also has a tendency to change his interests rather frequently and will often get caught up with the latest craze or in thing until something better or more exciting turns up.

Due to his many talents and likeable nature, the Horse will often go far in life. He enjoys challenges and success means everything. To fail is a disaster and a humiliation.

The Horse also enjoys travel and he loves visiting new and far away places. He pays a great deal of attention to his appearance and usually likes to wear smart, colourful and rather distinctive clothes. He is very attractive to the opposite sex and will often have many romances before he settles down.

Horses are especially well-suited to those born under the signs of the Tiger, Goat, Rooster and Dog.

Famous Horse People: Ang Lee, Boris Yeltsin, Clint Eastwood, Franklin Roosevelt and Nelson Mandela.

The Year of the Goat

The Year of the Goat is of special significance to people born in 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 and 2015.

The Goat is thought to be the most artistic sign of the zodiac, perhaps because this is a very creative sign.

The Goat is artistically talented and has a great sense of fashion. As such, many Goats become designers or painters, or go into the kind of profession where they can make the most of their gifts for creating beautiful things.

Goats are considerate creatures - they think before acting, and try not to hurt anyone's feelings. If it ever happens that the Goat person causes unforeseen problems, it is very likely that he will step forward to rectify the situation. Sympathy is very important to Goats as is the approval of people they respect. However, they sometimes require too much attention and impose too much on those who are close to them.

People born in this year can be insecure so need to feel loved and protected.

Goats are most compatible with Pigs and Rabbits but never with an Ox.

Famous Goat People: Alain Prost, Bill Gates, Chow Yun Fat, George Harrison and Mick Jagger.

The Year of the Monkey

The Year of the Monkey is of significance to people born in 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 and 2016.

The Monkey is born under the sign of fantasy. He is imaginative, inquisitive and loves to keep an eye on everything that is going on around him. He is never backward in offering advice or trying to sort out the problems of others.

The Monkey is intelligent, well-read and always eager to learn. He has an extremely good memory and there are many Monkeys who have made particularly good linguists.

The Monkey can, however, be crafty, cunning and occasionally dishonest, and he will seize on any opportunity to make a quick gain or outsmart his opponents. He has so much charm and guile that people often don't realize what he is up to until it is too late. But despite his resourceful nature, the Monkey does run the risk of outsmarting even himself.

With so many diverse talents the Monkey is able to make considerable sums of money, but he does like to enjoy life and will think nothing of spending his money on some exotic holiday or luxury which he has had his eye on.

He is a good organiser and even though he may behave slightly erratically at times, he will invariably have some plan at the back of his mind.

The Monkey should avoid Tigers and seek out Dragons or Rats.

Famous Monkey People: Bob Marley, George Lucas, Harry Truman, Leonardo da Vinci and Rene Descartes.

The Year of the Rooster

The Year of the Rooster is of special significance to people born in 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 and 2017.

The Rooster is born under the sign of candour. He has a flamboyant and colourful personality and is meticulous in all that he does. He is an excellent organiser and wherever possible, likes to plan his various activities well in advance.

The Rooster is usually very dignified in his manner and conducts himself with an air of confidence and authority. He is adept at handling financial matters and, as with most things, he organises his financial affairs with considerable skill.

Another characteristic of the Rooster is that he invariably carries a notebook or scraps of paper around with him. He is constantly writing himself reminders or noting down important facts lest he forgets - the Rooster cannot abide inefficiency and conducts all his activities in an orderly, precise and methodical manner.

Roosters like to lead an active social life and enjoy attending parties and big functions. They usually have a wide circle of friends and are able to build up influential contacts with remarkable ease.

The Rooster is particularly interested in the environment, humanitarian affairs and anything affecting the welfare of others.

The Rooster should seek out Snakes and Oxen but avoid Rabbits.

Famous Rooster People: Anna Kournikova, Joan Rivers, Richard Wagner, Eric Clapton, Nero and Catherine the Great.

The Year of the Dog

The Year of the Dog is of special significance to people born in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018.

The Dog is born under the signs of loyalty and anxiety. He usually holds very firm views and beliefs and is the champion of good causes. He hates any sort of injustice or unfair treatment and will do all in his power to help those less fortunate than himself.

The Dog instills confidence wherever he goes and there are many who admire him for his integrity and resolute manner. He is a very good judge of character and he can often form an accurate impression of someone very shortly after meeting them.

Despite his friendly and amiable manner, the Dog is not a big socialiser. He dislikes having to attend large social functions or parties and much prefers a quiet meal with friends or a chat by the fire.

He is quick-witted and his mind is always alert. He can keep calm in a crisis and although he does have a temper, his outbursts tend to be short-lived.

Another characteristic of the Dog is his tendency to worry and to view things rather pessimistically. Quite often these worries are totally unnecessary and are of this own making.

The Dog should look for Horses and Tigers but beware of Dragons.

Famous Dog People: Andre Agassi, Claudia Schiffer, Donald Trump, Elvis Presley, Socrates and Winston Churchill.

The Year of the Pig

The Year of the Pig is of special significance to people born in 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and 2019.

The Pig is born under the sign of honesty. He has a kind and understanding nature and is well known for his abilities as a peace-maker. He hates any sort of discord or unpleasantness and will do all in his power to sort out differences or opinion or bring opposing factions together.

He is an excellent conversationalist and speaks truthfully and to the point. He dislikes any form of falsehood or hypocrisy and is a firm believer in justice and the maintenance of law and order. In spite of these beliefs however, the Pig is reasonably tolerant and often prepared to forgive others for their wrongs. He rarely harbours grudges and is never vindictive.

The Pig is usually very popular. He enjoys other people's company and likes to be involved in joint or group activities. He will be a loyal member of any club or society and can be relied upon to lend a helping hand at functions.

Pigs should avoid other Pigs and marry Rabbits or Goats.

Famous Pig People: Woody Allen, Alfred Hitchcock, John McEnroe, Luciano Pavarotti, Prince Rainier of Monaco and Salman Rushdie.

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 U.S. Army Gets things Right and Wrong

    Some blame them, and the U.S. military, for messing up the world. Others credit them for saving the world more than once. I believe that the truth lies in many gradations in between.

    We all have opinions and ideas about what is done right within and without by the Army. Just one branch, but the biggest. It has helped many people. It has killed many others. Armies do heavy, heavy things. But they liberate millions, in the case of the US forces, leaders and troops.

    The other day (this is in January 2024), I had the thought that the Chinese should be grateful that we dropped the nuclear bombs on Japan to end World War II, to submit their massive enterprise, because I think most Chinese would be speaking Japanese if we had not saved them in the times of the Empire that had run them brutally since the early 1930s. Ever heard of Manchuko? Yes, the Japanese ruled China for a while. It was pretty bad.

    Maybe the Chinese would not have taken over Tibet as the People's Republic of China did by the late 1950s. Who knows?

    The U.S. Army and the American leaders, scientists, and operators ended it by those drastic acts. The bomb. Drastic times merited severe measures.

    Many lives affected. Millions, if not billions.

    Individually we are affected by U.S. Army decisions, high and low.

    We may know some stories about some people: fathers, sons, brothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, messed up by U.S. Army, because it at different levels made decisions that were detrimental to them in some way or fashion. I can tell a few.

    But, for now, I have not died because of them. Just some injuries due to training and service duties. I got them on Army time. But, eventually it should pay off.

    If I can survive. And that is the game of the U.S. Army. Stay in their graces and stay alive.

    The term "Army" can be used in many general senses and generically, too. There are armies of ants, or helpers, or religious armies, like the Army of the Lord, or the Armies of Darkness, etc. Christians and Muslims, and likely Jewish and Hindus and others, can go by their references to armies. The Book of Mormon, which is quite bellicose in parts, has many armies mentioned, good and bad, and one of the featured heroic groups is the Army of Helaman. Young men who were exactly obedient. Defenders of the truth and the people.

    Onward, Christian soldiers, many of us sing.

    In Christendom the parallels are constant.

    Armies need their associates and allies, too. Navies, and marines, and now air and space and cyber armies and troops.

    All of them work and toil to keep the peace, fight for the right causes, and control the spaces of the known universe from chaos and mayhem/

    And, most nations have them, a standing army or one in reserves. We need them. There will ever be armies across the globe and the heavens, as far as I know.

    Generals, captains, and regular joes. All of us make up the armies of the world, in some way or another.

    And, all of us are imperfect, and make mistakes.

    Here's hoping you and I can be found within their graces and peace.

    Group, dismissed.

 We Could Have All Died in the Waters of Israel

    I spent a summer there, and I survived. Most of us do. My roommate came closer than me to drowning in the springs of that resort-like water park. They created an unadvertised or secret little death watery zone, somewhere near the middle of those few acres of fun and recreation in the hot summer, if memory serves.

    I knew I was trapped in a water spot: dark, and cool, and potentially deadly. I was not in too much trouble, but my roommate friend Schaefer had a harder time detecting this, and went further, and longer. And he might have died. But he didn't. His mind, his lungs, his muscles, his spirit would not give up the ghost.

    We all survived that summer in the Holy Land. Three suicide bombings, and the last came close, but we were all spared. Some of our young ladies were assaulted and groped, but we made it through. 

    So many others have. Perhaps disproportionately. 

    Going back to the times of Sodom and Gomorrah, many died then. Some speculate it was some type of nuclear explosion that laid waste to those ancient peoples. Canaanites died in droves, it seems violently, according to the Bible, because the Israelities were commanded to do so.

    The last few months since the first week of October have been rough. Many Jewish people initially, then lots more Arabs. In the strip near old Ashkelon and other parts near the Mediterranean, now called Gaza.

    Many are surviving, with wounds and injuries, but thousands are being burnt and crushed. Israeli soldiers and hostages are being killed too.

    We could all die in the Holy Land, as Jesus of Nazareth did. Christians do this symbolically, in baptism and other sacraments of death and rebirth.

PUBLISH NOW.

    But more deaths have occurred, and will happen, and will come to pass.