Just a couple of literary gems

Two strands of thought these days:

1. Time, Travel & Being

‘The days drag on while the years fly by.’
(Chinese proverb)

They did not ask me, when they planned my life;
Why then blame me for what is good or bad?
Yesterday and today go on without us;
Tomorrow what’s the charge against me, pray?
In youth I studied for a little while;
Later I boasted of my mastery.
Yet this was all the lesson that I learned:
We come from dust, and with the wind are gone.
Of all the travellers on this endless road
No one returns to tell us where it leads,
There’s little in this world but greed and need;
Leave nothing here, for you will not return.
(Omar Khayyám)


2. News from Kyrgyzstan: the power of propaganda?

One year ago today I was there. I miss the place, even if I whinged about it endlessly on these very pages. I've been paying close attention to the news as of late, hoping all of my former colleagues, students, friends and acquaintances are doing fine, wondering what the future has in store for the country.

For those of you on Facebook, I implore you to take a look at Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s profile. In the meantime, amidst everything that’s been written, here’s a lovely piece of craftsmanship from a former student in Bishkek:

Hello
i am ok but i do not know whether your other students are ok but i think they are also ok
Yes the revolution has happened it was very awful
The president Bakiev killed 81 people he gave an order to kill the people when they were making miting and about one thosand 1000 people are in hospitals
Bakiev the ex president is a killer it is a fact all people know about it
And that is why i think that british media does not exaggerate it is all true
it is very difficult to live in such country where all is managed by very bad president and his family members
So 7 april became a new revolution day in history of Kyrgyzstan because president killed the people of his own country he killed his citizenships and it is all true
And how are you i hope everything is ok
Also i would like to know what do you think about this situation in Kyrgyzstan The British government
Does the government and people know that Bakiev ex president is a killer
Bye i also hope i will hear from you soon