What are you currently reading?

[red solo cup]

"Russians: The People Behind the Power" by Gregory Feifer. The author's mother was a Russian who married an American and emigrated
to the US. He was NPR's Moscow reporter where  he lived for years and traveled extensively in the country. He raised some of the following
points.
That Putin's relationship with Russia is less that of a president of a country and more like the Don of a mafia family.
That Putin skillfully uses PR to maintain his image. Oligarchs are allowed to amass wealth as long as they kowtow to him. People who
cross him get a visit from the dreaded Tax Police.
Although the government doesn't keep accurate records the author feels that the rate of alcoholism has tripled since the fall of the Soviet
Union.
That profits from oil and gas are going into the pockets of a few and very little is being  spent on infrastructure.
That although Russia produces good military hardware, their consumer goods don't compare well to those produced by other countries.
In spite of a lot of problems the author feels that Russia still produces world class art and literature and because they suffer, Russians
consider themselves morally superior to the West.

[Michael Wilson]

That sounds like a very interesting book.

[Heinrich]

RSC: Anything mentioned on rates of abortion?

[red solo cup]

Not offhand no. He did say that places like insane asylums and orphanages were often appalling.

[Michael Wilson]

I read in "30 Days" maazine, (during the late '90s-early 2000's) an account by two Catholic missionaries in the Russian far East; they stated,  that officially the average Russian woman has eight abortions; But they also said that in their opinion,  the real number was much higher.

[Heinrich]

I read in "30 Days" maazine, (during the late '90s-early 2000's) an account by two Catholic missionaries in the Russian far East; they stated,  that officially the average Russian woman has eight abortions; But they also said that in their opinion,  the real number was much higher.

How is that possible? Their is no way a woman can't come out of that unscathed? Horror.

[Michael Wilson]

I read in "30 Days" maazine, (during the late '90s-early 2000's) an account by two Catholic missionaries in the Russian far East; they stated,  that officially the average Russian woman has eight abortions; But they also said that in their opinion,  the real number was much higher.

How is that possible? Their is no way a woman can't come out of that unscathed? Horror.

Indeed, the two missionaries said that they couldn't even convince any women to carry their babies to term, and give them up for adoption; the spiritual damage wreaked by Communism in Russia, is very profound.

[LouisIX]

[Jacob]

The Far Side of the World by O'Brian.  Half way through the series!

[Heinrich]

HA! Druids ====> Christians ====> Toughest (mortal) dude to ever live: Richard II ======> illegal possession of France ======> Henry VIII ======> Empire =======> throne of NWO(City of London).

Good book.

[LouisIX]

HA! Druids ====> Christians ====> Toughest (mortal) dude to ever live: Richard II ======> illegal possession of France ======> Henry VIII ======> Empire =======> throne of NWO(City of London).

Good book.

Haha.  You've read it?  I'm happy with it so far, though I've only just begun.

[Heinrich]

I have not read it. Just providing a study guide. I am sure it is fascinating. Please edify us with some HK-esque observations that are not well known, but devastatingly "A HA!"/"HMMMM!" factoids.

[Arun]

I read in "30 Days" maazine, (during the late '90s-early 2000's) an account by two Catholic missionaries in the Russian far East; they stated,  that officially the average Russian woman has eight abortions; But they also said that in their opinion,  the real number was much higher.

How is that possible? Their is no way a woman can't come out of that unscathed? Horror.

Indeed, the two missionaries said that they couldn't even convince any women to carry their babies to term, and give them up for adoption; the spiritual damage wreaked by Communism in Russia, is very profound.

Russia is such a messed up country that people choose to use croc even though they know what it will do to them. thats harsh.

currently reading Black Belt Blueprint by Nic Gregoriades, Stretching Scientifically by Thomas Kurz and weighing up my options to factor in some spiritual reading again at long last. plus i'd like some recreational reading too, might have to go find me some more Chris Ryan books pretty sure there is still a couple i never read yet.

[Clare]

The Hobbit.

And, no, I've not read it before! 

[Bernadette]

The Hobbit.

And, no, I've not read it before! 

I've never been able to read that. I'm "reading" Librivox's latest Wilkie Collins book, The Queen of Hearts. Fun Victorian creepy stories loosely tied together by a romance.