I have never understood the break up of the Soviet Union, how and why did it happen?  Was there that much social unrest before the breakup?  Why didn't the Soviet Union just stay as one big country, just not communist?

Some of the new Republics have oil revenues to sustain them but others seem far too small to be viable, and leave their inhabitants with much less economic and educational opportunities.  Why do that to yourself?  

Russia remains a US bugbear but it is mostly based on the reputation of the USSR.  I am not saying that Russia should not be a strong and proud country but they simply do not have population and resources of the Soviet Union.  The idea of a 1980's style Warsaw Pact invasion of Europe seems (thankfully) to no longer be a possibility.  Why is there still so much animosity in our relationship?

I must say also that in our eyes Putin's goal seems to be rebuilding the Soviet Union by force, and while I can't figure out why Russia let the Republics go in the first place it seems too late to get them back now.  The Ukraine doesn't want to rejoin you, that much is clear.  Is it worth a war?  We don't always like our neighbors governments all that much, but we haven't invaded either of them ( in a while :-)

And why is Russia so paranoid about NATO?  Or about Polish air/missile defenses?

I am not looking to start a flame war, in fact here on italki it seems some of my favorite correspondents are Russian or Ukrainian.  Just trying to figure this out.

I love Italian.  Unfortunately most of those who speak it are in a time zone 5 or 6 hours ahead of me.  So either they have to stay up late, or I have to wake up early (earlier).  Neither has lead to a successful long term language relationship.

So, in a perfect world I would find someone in North or South America, native Italian speaker, who wants to do a language exchange with Italian/English regularly a few times a week.

If such a person exists, contact me!

Mmmm Fresh bread.  Sometimes I think this whole marriage thing just might work out. 

In English we have an old saying "The fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach".  Do you have a similar phrase in your language?

I tried to be good.  Chicken with Chinese vegetables please.  Plain rice not fried please.  Brown rice not white please.  I'm on a diet.  Thank you.

On italki I learned some Chinese pleasantries.  Ni hao (hello!), shi shi (thank you!).  Now I am the Chinese take out's favorite customer.  The culturally sensitive American.  Free Crab Rangoon.  Free wonton soup.  Tonite I mentioned how much I liked their egg rolls.  So they sent 4!  4 delicious egg rolls in all their crispy, deep fried greasy goodness!  So I ate them.  All of them.  Then I picked the chicken out of the vegetables.

So once again my diet lies in shambles.  But this time I stand with a clear conscience, as it is clearly ALL ITALKI'S FAULT!

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-16/decline-in-world-fertility-rates-lowers-risks-of-mass-starvation

An interesting article about lowered worldwide fertility rates leading to some optimism about controlling world overpopulation.  Personally I had never thought it would be possible to see these changes in Moslem majority countries, for religious and cultural reasons.  But that is changing.  Only sub-saharan Africa remains a hot zone.

Bridge on the River Kwai is on tonite.  Got some snacks and soda all lined up.  Alec Guiness before he became a Jedi - wonderful!

The wife is in bed with a "touch of a chill", so the TV is all mine!   No "Cake Boss" or "Pit bulls and Parolees" tonite!  Bwah hahahahaha!

Ah the simple things....