Article

2004-09-12 Caucasus

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2004-09-12 10:59:39 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Y'know, Fred, I've been thinking about that whole attention span thingy...

For both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R, while the societies as a whole didn't pay much attention except during crises, key elements of each society (armed forces, intelligence bureaus, that kind of thing) stayed pretty much on-topic for the better part of half a century.

You have a better perspective, of course, but it seems to me that -- in the States, at least -- this bespeaks a high level of trust amongst the citizenry that such things will be handled as they ought to be by those entrusted with the responsibility. Just as those who engage, overtly or covertly, to protect us, trust the rest of society to make sure there is something worth protecting.

Or to put it another way, my husband can go off to work over-long hours at the office, even travel all over the world for days and weeks, knowing that I've got the homefront covered. About which he is -- mostly! -- right ;-) (even if he does have to be really nice to me if he's been gone for one of the longer trips)

What do you think? Am I being overly romantical here?

Posted by trailing wife 2004-09-12 9:35:27 AM|| 2004-09-12 9:35:27 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I broke my last ten foot pole three years ago. :)

Posted by Shipman 2004-09-12 10:03:25 AM|| 2004-09-12 10:03:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Not about my husband, silly Shipman! About Ami attention span!

Posted by trailing wife 2004-09-12 1:48:16 PM|| 2004-09-12 1:48:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 huh?

:-)

Posted by Frank G 2004-09-12 1:49:25 PM|| 2004-09-12 1:49:25 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I broke my last ten foot pole three years ago

Must've been painful

Posted by Rafael 2004-09-12 1:53:52 PM|| 2004-09-12 1:53:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 TW

Is he on a trip now? Has he seen Mr. Davis?It's ben such a long time and I'm wondering how long I have to keep the home fires burning.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-09-12 2:05:34 PM|| 2004-09-12 2:05:34 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 No, he's just at some conference this afternoon. But he hasn't travelled for ages, and I'm running out of recipes. Another round of Pizza Hut and KFC might just force him back on the road.

No, he hasn't mentioned Mr. D, but then I only know those of his friends who follow him home, sorry. But I believe that after 7 years you can have him declared legally dead... I hope that helps ;-)

Back to my original question about American/Russian attention span, O you delightfully silly people. My thesis is that while we as individuals may not pay attention for long, as a society we/they most certainly do. Yes/no/other (please choose one and explain)

Posted by trailing wife 2004-09-12 5:48:31 PM|| 2004-09-12 5:48:31 PM|| Front Page Top

23:51 UFO
23:00 UFO
20:26 UFO
20:18 UFO
19:54 UFO
19:40 Anonymous6410
19:19 UFO
15:53 UFO
13:01 UFO
13:23 whitecollar redneck
13:23 whitecollar redneck
13:22 whitecollar redneck
13:22 whitecollar redneck
08:26 UFO
06:47 UFO
02:17 UFO
02:17 UFO
00:22 UFO
00:19 UFO
00:19 UFO
13:29 feeling bitchy
13:05 Anonymous6428
11:19 trailing wife
08:47 lyot