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wonderingjoesmith
Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 910 Location: Guangzhou
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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New sanctions against Russia in effect. The war of foolish politicians against shrewd business people have begun. Let's see what happens and hope no more blood is spilled. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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Dear wonderingjoesmith,
Good word choice:
"Shrewd is derived from the word shrewe, which means "wicked man." Shrewd can be used to describe people and/or business practices that are both smart and underhanded. Shrewd is similar to astute as both words are used to describe sound judgment and practical intelligence. Since shrewd has a negative connotation, it's usually used to describe someone who is sharp and intelligent, but potentially underhanded at the same time."
Regards,
John |
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wonderingjoesmith
Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 910 Location: Guangzhou
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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Dear john,
A shrewd cunning linguist you are.
“Underhanded” are a lot of trades around the world; snake oil salespeople have been looking at Kiev while purposely ignoring billions of other people elsewhere.
I suppose sneaky business practices may have been around for ages; Alaskans may not remember the booming economy during Czar Era which turned into a recession not long before the American purchase in which threats from Brits were mentioned.
While it is absolutely conceivable that both Russians and Americans were on the same page when it came to British threats during 1860s and right after the Crimean war (1853-1856), it is likely that some American businessmen were as sly as they could have been then.
Today, things don’t seem to have changed much, except that the British and American snake oil salespeople have joined forces to take another piece out of Russia souls.
Let’s see how long it’ll take before the resources stop flowing west out of mother Russia.
Respectfully yours,
Joe |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Johnslat
Dunno that I would say the 'shrewd' has a negative connotation by definition. Would you really? As in a 'shrewd career move'? Hardly underhand?
With Communist greetings
Sasha |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Sasha,
Perhaps you're not shrewd enough to grasp the negative connotation (which, by the way, is meant as a compliment).
Regards,
John |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Johnslat
I am both shrewd and astute. Fairly well clued-in, too, as it happens. So, I would only ever take that comment as an insult! Gads! How dare you call me not shrewd enough!!
I demand the satisfaction of a duel at dawn. I'll send my seconds round to your seconds to organise the details.
With Communist greetings
Shrewd Sasha |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Sasha,
You're being shrewish
Regards,
John |
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wonderingjoesmith
Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 910 Location: Guangzhou
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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The contest is in The Ukraine |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 11061 Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Johnslat
Weapons? Duelling pistols?
With Communist greetings
Sasha |
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grahamb
Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 1:11 pm Post subject: Oo er, missus! |
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Stalin's Organ for Sasha, Long Tom for John. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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grahamb
Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:46 pm Post subject: Changing history |
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I think you could put a time machine to better use, John. How about joining the Beach Boys instead of heading off to Parris Island? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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Dear grahamb,
A tempting suggestion. However, were I to fiddle with my personal past, well, who knows what could result? I might be dead - both Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson are. Or I might - god forbid, ever so much worse - be Republican.
No, I think that if you're happy - or at least content - with who you have become, you can't honestly regret or want to change any of your past since all that is what got you to who you are today.
Regards,
John |
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wonderingjoesmith
Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 910 Location: Guangzhou
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Western blind sanctions against Russia because of the state of the Ukraine are going to compromise the petrodollar. So, what got us to who we are today will probably not matter very soon unfortunately. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Dear wonderingjoesmith,
"So, what got us to who we are today will probably not matter very soon unfortunately."
Sorry to hear that, but your use of "us" is a bit presumptuous. While it may not matter to you, it does to me.
Regards,
John |
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