How's that for a question? It's the same as if someone asked 'What's the USA (or any other country) like?' The answer depends on who you are and what you're looking for. If you're looking for free and fair elections and a government that embraces the rule of law, don't look to Uzbekistan.

Karimov is an autocratic, kleptocratic leader whose security forces use primative, sometimes reprehensible, occasionally barbaric, methods to keep order. This is a given.

With that stipulation, governments have three choices:

1) Sever ties and have no further contact. This option may or may not include attempts to push sacntions through the UN or to impose them unilaterally.

2) Attempt regime change. In Uzbekistan, Karimov has consolidated power sufficiently well that this would require, IMHO, military action. Nothing short of that would bring him down.

3) Maintain ties and try to work on improving conditions for the population of Uzbekistan by working on the margins.

I can't think of any other options, but perhaps my readers can.

I am strongly against option 2. I don't think it works very well and we have current examples to support that belief. The USA is overstretched at the moment militarily anyway, so perhaps if it were to be done, some other military would have to take it on.

Option 1 would be very satisfying and people who hate the Karimov regime would find it a moral victory. I mean, how can you deal with someone with his track record? If you so much as talk with him, don't you have blood on your hands? This is the option of moral purity. The problem with this option is that it really would have no effect other than cause greater harm for the people of Uzbekistan. Karimov and his cronies are well ensconced and they'll do just fine regardless of sanctions or diplomatic relations. If there's any suffering to be done, it will be the people of Uzbekistan who'll have to bear the brunt. I refer you to North Korea and Cuba for examples to support this opinion. Some (mostly Reagan supporters) say that economic pressure from the US is what led to the collapse of the USSR, but I'm more inclined to believe the USSR needed no help to implode.

That leaves us Option 3. Hold your nose, and work within the system to try to make changes at the edges that may bear fruit some day. After all, Karimov is 80 and can't live forever. While there's no reason to think that the man who replaces him (no, I don't think it's going to be Gulnora and so it will almost certainly be a man) will be a Thomas Jefferson, it's possible to spread ideas and infrastructure that may make it easier for any successor to have more liberal (in the classic sense) political practices. We in the West have a tendency to want things to change NOW. In Asia, it's easier to think more in terms of centuries. It's horribly unsatisfying, but it probably has better long term prospects.

End of part one.

But I'm sitting on my parents' balcony overlooking the ocean, nice breezes countering the warm day. . . wine for the asking, sourdough baking in the oven and the whole family is DONE with our dentist appointments. Oh, and Matthew isn't going to need orthodontia. I rather like that bit.

I've had several people ask me to talk about Uzbekistan now that they're not monitoring every key stroke as I type. I've been gathering my thoughts and will put it here soon.

I've deleted the last posts in this blog that asked you all to drop me. You can come back now, please!

raven_oreilly hasn't friended me back, so I can't post in her journal. This is what I tried to post there, in case anyone would like to share it with her on my behalf:


tinuvielberen mentioned the FSM argument in your last post. There was a student who was suspended from school because he was advocating his religion of FSM, inisiting that it be taught in school that the FSM created us all. He said that the 'theory' of the FSM is the exact equivalent of the 'theory' of G-d creating everything, and so should be given equal time in the schools. He said, to be fair, that each native American creation theory be taught as well in the science classes as long as the creation theory of the fundamentalist Christians was to be taught, too.

I believe in G-d and believe that He was the force behind the universe and the One who devised the design of the Universe and set it on the path to evolve. I also believe that such ideas belong in the church, synagogue, temple, philosophy class, whatever, and NOT in science classes.

Mr. Moooooooooooooooooooodie gave me some questions to answer. If you'd like me to ask you questions, I'd be happy to do it.

1. So what’s so great about this Harry Potter stuff then?
The Potter books create a world I enjoy imagining myself a part of. I love that there's humour mixed with darkness. Some of the plot 'twists' are perfectly predictable based on ancient storytelling techniques, but the reason some story elements are so common is that they're still compelling. There are enough mysteries and puzzles to keep adults chatting 'knowledgeably' for hours. What happened to Voldemort's wand while he was Vapourmort? Where were Hagrid and Harry the 24 hours after Harry's parents were killed? What motivates Snape and does he have true allegiances? What would you see in the mirror of Erised? I've had great fun role playing some of these characters and find that it's hard work to do it well. Adults who immerse themselves in these stories share several common characteristics: intelligence, humour, curiosity, and a passion for reading. I've met some wonderful people through this shared interest.

2. What was your favourite toy as a child?
My plush dolls. I didn't like plastic fashion dolls or baby dolls, but the animals and I spent untold lovely hours creating our own new worlds.

3. Is Bigfoot real, or is it just a guy in a monkey suit?
Bigfoot is as real as the abominable snowman. And the Loch Ness Monster. The secret to seeing any of these is to have a nice long chat with Johnny Walker first.

4. If you were an exotic dancer, what would your stage name be?
Mary Sheena Cherry

5. Would you rather be a werewolf or a vampire?
Vampire! Can't they fly? I'd love to be able to fly. If they can't fly, then I'd be a werewolf, because then I'd be human and could have a fairly normal life most of the month. I'm used to turning into a beast every month, nearly every woman is, and so it wouldn't be such a stretch.

I realize that several of you know my parents or know of them. I've made some references to the fire, but I haven't posted it here so everyone can know they're OK. My parents live in the same tower as the unit where the fire was. Their place is directly below it on the 11th floor. They have a second one two floors below that that they currently rent out but where my brother and sister-in-law will be living soon.

Local news coverage the day after.

Local news coverage the night of.

My parents are fine. As luck would have it, they were scheduled to come here on Friday to spend spring break with my family, which they have done. They had to evacuate their home anyway, so it's nice that they have a good place to live while it's still chaos there. There is water damage to their home and other damage to some of the other units in the tower, including some damage to the unit where my brother will live.

The first video speaks of how sprinklers might have saved Mr. Crews's life. While it is true that sprinklers would have kept the damage down and might have saved his life, there is more to the story. Mr. Crews left his home to knock on the door of his neighbor on the same floor to advise her to leave. She asked him in and he said something to the effect, of "No. I'm alright." So, he was in the hallway while the fire was in progress and could have escaped. Instead, he apparently went back into his home (to get something?) and became trapped as the fire spread across the entryway. A reminder NEVER to go back into a burning building once you've escaped. I cannot imagine the horror of his last moments.

My parents tell me that they are very moved by the outpouring of offers of places to stay and other help. The night of the fire, the people who lived nearby let the evacuees come into their homes for shelter, toilets, telephone calls. . .Everyone has been enormously helpful and supportive. They have a place to stay right now and are making the arrangements for when they return on the 10th. Thank you to everyone who has been so kind with your concern and your very generous offers.

May the coming year bring you joy and comfort, may the ills of the past be the foundation of great things to come.

Happy birthday, theoldcatlady . How you manage to keep going in the face of all your adversities, I'll never know. You're a strong one and that's a fact.

(Wow, two entries in one day. Next thing you know, I'll be documenting my every eye blink like SB! :P to miss_s_b )

Dear Hot Head --

Receiving a poor review from those idjits reflects more on them than on you. Your head knows it, but your insides keep saying, "well, I could have done better. . ." That will always happen because, yes, we could all do better. No one is perfect. I've been reading what you've been saying about the backstabbers, and this sounds like it's more of the same. You know that you've been good to the customers, you've pulled your share of the tough work, and you've been a reliable employee. If that company expects you to make them your new religion, they don't pay enough.

Proof of what I'm saying is that what happened yesterday has spurred you to action rather than moping -- you're putting in applications and you're going to dump your current employer. You're not going to sit there and whinge that it's so horrible where you are; you're going to DO something about it. As we discussed last night, there are so many people chasing so few decent jobs that you know you're facing an uphill battle. You're going to have to apply everywhere. I do NOT envy you one bit. Job hunting is harder than any job ever was, which is why so many people will stay where they are instead of move on. I still remember, 21 years later, the horrors of pounding the pavement and being rejected again and again and again. It's demeaning and demoralising.

So, as you enter this wretched process, I just want you to know that you have a cheering section out here that knows what a fab person you are and that the company that finally does hire you is going to be the winner.

Carol

Instead of asking you all to vibrate for me before a blood test, I should post cute kid stuff instead. I'll remember that.

The INR is high enough I'm OFF the injections and only have to take the warfarin. YAY! I'm taking a massive dose of the warfarin (even doctors' eyes pop when I tell them) but it is working even with my diet that's normally high in vitamin K.

YAY! Happy happy happy!

(Did you know that warfarin started out as rat poison? I'm consuming massive amounts of rat poison every day and it's working.)

Once upon a time, a speech and language pathologist advised me to learn sign language and teach it to my son as it was doubtful he would ever learn to speak. I did teach him a couple of signs, but the program we worked on for speaking (independent of that SLP) was very successful and now he speaks quite well. If I didn't tell you that, I think you would still enjoy the following: (I decided not to correct the spelling of 'starch' because it's cute. The title is the one he gave it. )


Matthew's Oobleck Poem

It is weird and so smelly,
And it will make you dirty.
Looks like goo but what the heck,
It has a name called oobleck!

I do not know if it's new,
But it seems like it is glue.
Oh no it's not edible,
Well it can be stretchable!

It might be something you know,
With corn startch and H2O.
It's in a Dr. Seuss book,
Don't judge it by how it looks.

Make a snowman out of it,
If you can do that to it.
Well that is my oobleck poem,
Try to make it on your own!

End

When I was reading it, he proudly pointed out that each line is exactly seven syllables. He then 'corrected' himself to say that each line except the title and the word 'end' is exactly seven syllables. He is just shy of 12 years old.

Thanks you everyone who posted good wishes for me on the previous post. It may have had no effect on my INR, but it had a wonderful effect on my morale.

The Good News: My INR is up to 1.4. It needs to be between 2 and 3 for me to stop the injections, but after going DOWN last time from 1.2 to 1.0, I was very pleased to see it back up again and more. My warfarin has been increased and the Nurse Practitioner says she'd be astounded if this didn't do it. In fact, she wants me back in on Thursday for another check because it may have worked by then.

The Bad News: I have to continue the injections. I'm getting used to them, actually, and while I'll be REALLY HAPPY when I can stop, it's not so horrific as when I started.

Injections to date: 36

It seems all I ever do is post about my health issues these days. Sorry about that. Still, I go in tomorrow for another blood test. Please to vibrate accordingly.

On a non health note, my current students are a great group. They're very easy-going, curious, enthusiastic, and professional. Nice to have such an easy go of it when my attention is so focused on my foot and blood.

My kids have discovered the joys of seafood. YAY! Wegman's had a sale today on shrimp ($6/lb) and their frozen salmon (teh yummeh) is $5.50/lb and so I stocked up. I don't eat shrimp, but I do know how to prepare it -- loads of garlic. Heh. My parents could tell you a story of what happened back when I DID eat shrimp. We were in Mexico and I had shrimp in garlic at some restaurant. The resultant belch was heard 'round the world. Actually, I guess it doesn't take my parents to tell it after all.

;)

__________________
10 -- Completed
12 -- Completed
15 -- 12 down, 3 to go

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Gaeri!
Happy birthday to YOU!

And many more. . .

You've been a good friend. You have a kind heart and an inquisitive mind -- a combination that makes for a fabulous person.

♥

You may think you have the best parents in the whole wide world, but you're wrong. I do.

Thanks, mom. Thanks, father. I love you.

_______________________________________________________________
First series of injections: 10 Status: completed
Second series of injections: 12 Status: completed
Third series of injections: 15 Status: Seven down, eight to go

Next blood test: Monday, 19 March

I just want you all to know that it feels good being able to tell you all my troubles and have you be so supportive. It does help. You're a great group of people. Thanks.

_______________________________________________________________
First series of injections: 10 Status: completed
Second series of injections: 12 Status: completed
Third series of injections: 15 Status: One down, fourteen to go

Next blood test: Monday, 19 March

The warfarin levels went down.

The doctor will call me to discuss what to do, but it's really bad news.

Tomorrow I have another blood test. If I've reached a theraputic level of warfarin in my blood, I can stop giving myself injections. If you have a moment for good thoughts, I'd appreciate it.

I had a good day -- I've nearly finished my taxes (I need to call for two more numbers tomorrow and then I can send it off to my tax guy,) I helped Matthew with his book report due Wednesday, I took the kids swimming and swam a lot, I dropped off some clothes at the Goodwill, bought some groceries, and cooked a dinner that everyone liked.

Matthew tells me that Anna Nicole Smith died from an attack by ninjas, followed by Marines, followed by an evil pots and pans robot. At that point, people saw her and thought they could save her, but a T-rex came along and ate up the remains. I don't know if I should laugh or be worried.

The blood doctor took more blood and said that my GP is right -- the pill hasn't taken as much effect as we'd like and I need to continue the shots. Next blood test is Monday. We need to be between 2 and 3. I was at 1.1 on Monday and 1.3 today, so there's hope I'll be there by Monday. I think. If so, I'll only need this second series of the shots.

The good news -- contrary to what the idiot intern/resident shadowing my podiatrist said yesterday (which had me really upset) the blood doctor said that the podiatrist should be able to schedule my foot surgery in 4-6 weeks. Idiot intern was saying 6 months to 2 years, but he apparently didn't know that there's a method to take me off the pill, put me back on the shots, do the surgery, put me back on the shots and build up the pill again. That means a lot more shots in my future, but at least we'll be able to do the surgery so that I'll be able to get back on my feet again in a reasonable amount of time.

'Reasonable' being one where I'll be able to go with my family to Tashkent or to follow to join not long after.

_____________________________________________
First series of 10 injections: complete.
Second series of 12 injections: 25% complete.

The blood test results are back. I have to resume the injections -- a series of 12 this time. Six more days.

Ed met me at the door when I came home and he held me up while I cried.