- Tragedy in Zolitude. 54 dead. Lives broken. Case is not closed, guilties not yet found, systems not yet improved, but I hope that all of us will learn our lesson from it. And responsibility level in Latvia will rise. People will think twice before bribing or themselves lowering standards. Hopefully, some people will increase their standards. Few people will start putting "first things first", few will exit the "rat race". It seems that time is a great healer, and many of us already have forgotten, yet, some change will take place.
- NSA and Snowden. Cybersecurity becomes more and more important, yet, economies and policies become more fragile and „infectious” as our economy gets more and more digital, and share of „computer-based” business increases. To me that whole story is a reminder of Orwelian „1984”, and I feel more and more uncomfortable realizing, how much „internet” knows about me… Trend of living on „a cloud” seems unavoidable, yet, I do not like it at all.
- Latvian success story. On one hand, we might be proud that leaders of our country are recognized as „success story”, cutting spending to the bone (and deeper), and making economy to recover. In fact, this „success story” is a testimony to Latvian people, who where stoic enough to silently accept all the cuts and lowering standards of life.
- Innovation accelerates. 3D-printing business doubled in 2013, bio-technology and technology companies grew. American scientists printed 3D ear of live cells. Dotcoms got more valuable (while still not generating income..), fracking puts USA back on the map of oil&gas suppliers etc etc. All that kind of made me feel that „basket of innovation” is not empty, and world indeed has a chance to innovate out of the mess of „overspending"
- Meteor strike. Chelyabinsk witnessed 1491 people injured and 4300 buildings damaged after meteor strike in February. This prompted international concern regarding vulnerability of the planet to meteor strikes. And most probably, me and you, we do not know what big politics and science knows. They created some team to come up with ideas on how to safeguard our planet in future. With frequency of natural disasters increasing (hurricanes, typhoon "Jolanda", floods in India this year etc..) it might be good idea, but I am not sure, if it is really in our power to influence nature and "flow of things"
- Benedict XVI resigned. He was first to do so voluntarily since Calestine V back in 1294. I took it as great example of responsibility. I am not good (healthy) enough, so I step back. Hopefully again it will make some mortals reconsider their ambitions vs their abilities.
- EU bailed out Cyprus. With some money "confiscated" from depositors, life goes on, and EU kind of made strong message that EU is here to stay (at least few more years). Latvians "touching" their own EUR in 3 days, so we are testimonial to long live Europa. Yes, Croatia joined EU in July, becoming 28th member state of EU.
- Chechens exploding 2 bombs at the Boston Marathon reminded of the ghost of terrorism. Also of the fundamental issue of Islam vs Christianity. I pray for smart men, priests, intellectual leaders to figure out, how to make these religions "more friendly", how to avoid "extremism", how to move closer to the idea of One God, who does not demand playing strictly according to only "one set of rules".
- US government shut-down and Detroit files for bankruptcy. After all, I might be not so wrong about "inflated" power of USA, (as said in previous blog USA vs Europe), and possibly we will see further decline of this so far clear "number 1 superpower". While I do not think Japan will do any better than US, but China seems really catching up.
- I changed job and attended meditation retreat. I am not sure, if this one should actually go on top of my list... But main point here is that for all of us surely have had few "life-changing" events of our own, that are important to recognize and appreciate.
Happy New Year my friends!!!