The Apolitical Activist, Ch. 12

It is interesting to note how much more skillfully the Chinese have handled the Snowden affair than the bumbling Russians. To be sure, the arrival of Snowden on their soil was clearly a boon for both countries:   both had been widely criticized for decades by the USA for their ruthless censorship and oppression of their political opposition--to the extent any was allowed to exist.   Now, with Snowden ironically seeking political asylum in their countries, they could manipulate their propaganda machines to suggest that things must not be too bad in China/Russia if this American "hero" is now seeking asylum from the "horrors" of American totalitarianism within our borders.

So Snowden goes to Hong Kong (which for all intents and purposes is China), and gives the Chinese what they want--he gives interviews with Chinese Newspapers and the Chinese propaganda machine manipulates the situation as above.  One can imagine the average Chinese citizen reading the newspapers and thinking something like, "hey, I don't have it so bad, I mean, I can't access any internet sites without government approval, and if I protest the government like in Tiananmen square, I will probably die, but at least my government isn't spying on me."  (lol).   Then the genius of the Chinese response comes into play, having been given what they wanted in terms of a propaganda tool, they quickly realize that if they keep Snowden, its going to piss off the Americans.   And really, what would be gained with pissing off the Americans at that point?  Snowden already has giving you what you want in terms of a propaganda tool--what is to be gained by keeping him?   So they realize it probably makes sense to ship Snowden to some other country and let them deal with the headache. So they respond to America's extradition request with the concocted excuse that the papers were not filled out completely and they ship Snowden to their neighbor to the north.

So Snowden arrives in Russia.  By now Russia knows that Obama is going to be very pissed at whatever country who accepts Snowden.  So what's the advantage in having him?  I bet that Russia thought that they could reach some sort of deal with America for Snowden's release.   And this another of my criticisms of Snowden:  for him going to these totalitarian countries he must have known that these governments would have wanted something in return if they turned him over to the Americans  Again, Snowden is no hero, but that's beside the point.   The point is that if Russia or China would have turned Snowden over, they would have wanted something in return--e.g. the release of some agent in American custody or perhaps more sinisterly, the insistence or outright agreement that the next Russian or Chinese defector (who would probably have much better reasons than Snowden for seeking asylum) would have to be returned to Russia/China.  Kudos to Obama that he probably didn't agree to such a deal.

Going back to my original point:  the skillfulness of the Chinese response.   The achieved their objective with almost no political fallout.   We shall see what future fallout occurs to the Russians.

Friend of the Devil, Ch. 8

I was on mountain climbing outside Grand Junction, Colorado.   The path turned into a ledge, but I kept on going to the path and did not look down.  The ledge gradually became narrower but there was now a chain link fence above the path that I was able to grab onto to keep my balance to avoid falling off the ledge.   I knew I would die if I fell off, so I grabbed on tightly to the fence and waited until I could get to the other side.  Finally, the ledge became only a couple of inches narrow.   I kept inching forward over the ledge hoping that it would widen out.   However, I looked ahead and found that the ledge eventually disappeared altogether and there was nothing but a cliff face.  This was a path to nowhere.  Then unfortunately I looked down...

I was in a backyard garden underneath some sort of pagoda.  I was with a woman that I knew was the most important thing of my life.  But I knew she was going to be taken away from me.  I could do nothing about it. 

The Devil approached me and spoke:   "The sun is so nice today. It was such a great invention by your forefathers."

 I looked at him blankly.   

"Didn't you know that?  I thought it was obvious.   How else would your puny little world receive light and heat if someone hadn't developed all these fusion machines.   Think of it.   Really, you didn't know?  Don't tell me...you thought that the suns and the stars in the sky were a natural phenomena?  How quaint.   You really surprise me sometimes."

And you are always an asshole.  Fuck you you piece of shit.

"Well maybe, if you are lucky anyway."  (winking at me).   "Since I can tell you haven't heard of the Novalimas, let me tell you.  Eons ago, on this god forsaken planet you call Earth, there existed a backward people called the Novalimas.  They had only a very rudimentary technology, but they had perfected fusion generators,  hyper light speed space travel, and time travel.  Like I said, nothing very significant in the grand scheme of things."

Fuck you Satan, you douche bag, you are making this up.

"I always never tell a lie or the truth.  Didn't you know that?  Sorry, I have to keep reminding myself how backward ass you people are.   Anyway, these people, the Novalimas, decided that after centuries of eugenical experiments--and they did have some proclivities for eugenics--despite their lack of any other significant technology--that they would leave earth.  I'm not sure were they went.  Actually, I could find out.   Let me consult my sources.   Hmmm...I see they traveled to...oh, interesting.  I see.  We'll I'm not sure you would understand this, but lets just say they are no longer in the universe as you perceive it.  But what you perceive--everything you perceive about astronomy is a product of what the Novalimas created.   That's right.  All these suns in the sky--all fusion generators created by the Novalimas--your ancestors."

I don't believe a word you are telling me.

"It is of no consequence.  I could see that you would be a little touchy about this.  For the Novalimas--you forefathers--abandoned all their failed experiments of eugenics on this planet--this planet you call Earth before they sort of checked out.  You and the rest of the humans around here are a bunch of defective experiments of the Novalimas. Even the monkeys.   Well, I think you are slightly more evolved than them.   But sometimes I wonder.  Anyway, compared to the Novalimas, you would be the Mongoloids with one chromosome too many so to speak in the grand scheme of things.   Sorry about that Sri.  Better luck in your next life.

 

Hasa diga eebowai.   When blanking a frog becomes only a metaphor.  And you sleep in a basement where a strange psychological phenomena of love betrayal and denial occurs above you