Just finished the last episode of the last season of The Big Bang Theory. It's hard to believe it was twelve years ago, when me, my sister, and our friends started to watch this series. It's been a long and wonderful journey. I'm really grateful to everybody who was involved in this project. The BBT is so funny and nerdy, wise and humanistic, entertaining and telling you a billion interesting things about our Universe. Its characters truly became kinda family for all thankful fans all over the world. So many things happened during this dozen of years. To think about it, my life completely changed - and I like it a lot! As Sheldon said: changes are the only constant in our life. And I'm so happy that I still have my family and friends I used to have 12 years ago (though I live far away from majority of them now) - and I'm blessed to have now even more people that are really close to my heart! I am full of curiosity for the path that lays ahead :0)
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It's not just a brutal gore (though it has enough of it).
It's a philosophical tale of violence and retribution.
The one and only brilliant Mads Mikkelsen, playing main character, goes through the painful transformation, the divine ordalia, as he passes through the hanging and loses his eye, as Odin did, to obtain a new wisdom.
Also, I would like to point out Katheryn Winnick (Катерина Винницька), a Ukrainian from Canada, she did masterfully in Vikings - and now she is very persuasive in the role of Vivian, the exquisite assasine master.
Strongly recommend if you're into such kind of stuff
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Dlaczego moje serce tęskni za czymś Każdego roku, gdy akacja kwitnie? Obejmuje mnie słodki smutek, I chcę pić wino, patrzeć komuś w oczy, I rozmawiać całą noc.
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Rzeczpospolita atlantycka by Jan Nowak-Jeziorański I'm not surprised this book is banned in modern Russia. Alas, I'd not be surprised, if this book finds itself forgotten in modern Poland, under the PiS. Indeed, when the Titans leave, there are dwarfs on the stage. Jan Nowak-Jeziorański was a great thinker. And it was a pleasure to read his Rzeczpospolita atlantycka (Восточные размышления, Eastern Reflections in Russian translation). People like him and Gedroits (with whom he polemicized) laid the foundation for peace and stability in Eastern and Central Europe after the Cold War. Reading his wise reflections on how Poland should build relations with its neighbors, in particular Ukraine, one could be simply horrified at how much the present Polish government is doing exactly the opposite. History teaches us that everything passes, and I hope that the era of populism and speculation on nationalism in Poland will soon come to an end.
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tout nouveau testament и спросил он у царя ирода: "нет ли в месте том твоих губителей душ, что побивают младенцев сирийских за злато твоё?" - "ихтамнет!", был ответ ирода. - "ты сказал!", ответствовал он. и стало так.
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"One selfless act of love and hope. That's what I put my money on."
A brilliant adaptation of the famous novel by Philip K. Dick, which goes, at least in my opinion, far beyond the book itself, and in a good way. I think that the author himself would appreciate this reminder about the truth that even in the most perilous conditions it's crucial for us to stay the humans who draw their strength not in hatred but in Love. Merry Christmas, everyone!
P.S. Second season is even better than the first one. Looking forward for the third!
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Democracy Study Centre - «Pulse of Ukraine Forum» Last weekend I participated in the forum organized by Democracy Study Centre in collaboration with German Polish Ukrainian Society and European Ukrainian Youth Policy Centre. It was an excellent event with many interesting speakers, among which I would especially like to mention representatives of STRATCOM Department from Lithuanian Army, telling us about modern informational warfare, former Prime Minister of Poland Mr. Belka with a very inspiring speech about modern challenges to democracy, and Ms. Pentus-Rosimannus, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, who gave as a thoughtful insight on current state of NATO affairs (and not only). It was also pleasant to get acquainted with many young Ukrainian civic activists and innovative entrepreneurs who came from all over the country to be awarded during the final ceremony of the contest for the best social ideas and their realisation. Fellows of Democracy Study Centre also received their graduation diplomas. In general, these were two productive days, during which I had a chance to see old acquaintances and met new interesting people. Thanks to the organizers for the invitation! :)
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Perhaps the best thing that has happened to a spy thriller since the first seasons of the Homeland and the Americans.
The series is good not only as a psychological game that keeps a viewer in suspense, and not only grâce à pleiad of excellent actors.
The central question of the series: how far can you go in an attempt to protect the state interests? And at what point does the pursuit of security become the source of this very danger?
This theme is consonant with the book I am currently reading: Save civil rights: freedom and safety by Gerhart Baum.
Baum is a German politician and lawyer. His tenure as a Federal Minister of the Interior coincided with the pick of activities of the infamous RAF, Rote Armee Fraktion. So he was obliged not in theory, but in practice to carry out the massive counter-terrorism campaign – and in the same time to guarde the constitutional rights of citizens, not to allow security measures to infringe civil freedom.
In the series, German workers of BfV (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution), as well as their American counterparts, very often violate the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable (to be fair, it is sometimes very blurred). And this leads to grave and unpredictable consequences.
So I recommend this series not only as entertainment, but also as a food for reflection. It is especially relevant in our time, when the war on terror becomes more and more extensive.
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Червоний Потужний фільм. Дуже раджу. Радий, що є таке наше кіно. І за тематикою - і за якістю.
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A truly powerful Ukrainian movie based on real events.
An officer of UPA (Ukrainska Povstanska Armiia - Ukrainian Insurgent Army) was trapped in the living hell of Stalin's concentration camps but managed to survived with human dignity and will to freedom - and to organized an uprising of political prisoners.
Strongly recommended.
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