Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

The Current State of the Ukraine
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... , 12, 13, 14  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Current Events Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
wonderingjoesmith



Joined: 19 Aug 2012
Posts: 910
Location: Guangzhou

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
wonderingjoesmith



Joined: 19 Aug 2012
Posts: 910
Location: Guangzhou

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Sasha,

Perhaps you're not shrewd enough to grasp the negative connotation (which, by the way, is meant as a compliment). Very Happy

Regards,
John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Sasha,

You're being shrewish Very Happy

Regards,
John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
wonderingjoesmith



Joined: 19 Aug 2012
Posts: 910
Location: Guangzhou

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The contest is in The Ukraine Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Johnslat

Weapons? Duelling pistols?


With Communist greetings

Sasha
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grahamb



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 1:11 pm    Post subject: Oo er, missus! Reply with quote

Stalin's Organ for Sasha, Long Tom for John. Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear grahamb,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'll take one of these. please:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/7904712/Quantum-time-machine-allows-paradox-free-time-travel.html

whereupon, I'll go back to 1917 and make a few "adjustments.'Very Happy

Regards,
John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grahamb



Joined: 30 Apr 2003
Posts: 1945

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:46 pm    Post subject: Changing history Reply with quote

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? Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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. Very Happy

Regards,
John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
wonderingjoesmith



Joined: 19 Aug 2012
Posts: 910
Location: Guangzhou

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Fri May 02, 2014 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Current Events Forum All times are GMT
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... , 12, 13, 14  Next
Page 13 of 14

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China