Distant laughter. Heat.
Sunlight filtered through foliage.
Childhood memories.
About the Creator
Katarzyna Popiel
A translator, a writer. Two languages to reconcile, two countries called home.
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More stories from Katarzyna Popiel and writers in Poets and other communities.
Has German intelligence issued a warning about a potential Russian attack on NATO within this year?
According to an alleged leak of German Intelligence, Russia is preparing for a full-scale war with NATO by 2026. The leak points to the reorganization of the Russian army, movement of troops, and mobilization of the defense industry. 😳🎖️ The report suggests that within five years, Russian military strength could double. While the veracity of the report is yet to be confirmed, the evidence of Russia's preparations is already evident. 💀💪 Western support for Ukraine has been a critical factor in Russia's evolving stance. The West's reluctance to provide decisive aid and commit to a Russian defeat has emboldened Putin's ambitions. 😒💸 Russia has adapted its military tactics, offered lucrative pay packages to recruits, and mobilized its industry for war. Russian defense spending has doubled, and production of military equipment has skyrocketed. 🇷🇺💰 Sanctions? Psh, Russia's finding ways around those. They're still getting their hands on the parts they need to keep the war machine running. And let's face it, this isn't just a phase – they're in it for the long haul. 😤🔧 NATO's hesitancy to challenge Russia directly has given Putin reason to believe he could win a war of attrition against NATO's eastern flank, potentially targeting the Baltics, Poland, and even Finland. 😬🌍 Russia's goal may be to force the Baltics back into its sphere of influence, close the Suwalki gap, and prove that NATO's Article 5 commitment is a joke, potentially leading to the alliance's disintegration. 😈💀 The United States' commitment to NATO has become questionable, with former President Trump expressing sympathy for Putin and threatening to pull the US out of the alliance. 🇺🇸⚰ Europe's starting to sweat bullets over the idea of Russia taking Ukraine and then coming for them next, especially if the US withdraws its support. 😩🇪🇺 As Russia prepares for war, Europe must take decisive action to support Ukraine and strengthen its own defenses, potentially even without US support, to counter the growing Russian threat. 🤷♂️🚨
By Infographics Show6 days ago in Poets
Can You Drive a Ford Fiesta Through a Desert?
I’m flying down the B1 highway from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop with a map and a boot full of camping gear. I’m excited for the first stop of my Namibian road trip: the Quiver Tree Forest. I spot the sign and turn onto the C17, off the tarmac and onto the gravel. I’ll be there soon; it’s only ten miles or so. I am unprepared for what comes next. The car slides and slips across the road. I am not fully in control anymore. I slow to a crawl. The car judders and shudders, the noise deafening, the vibrations rattling the teeth in my skull. It takes me around an hour to drive the ten miles. I arrive at the campsite relieved to be in one piece, even if it feels like all my bones have been shaken slightly out of place. I will later learn that this is what happens when the gravel road becomes “corrugated”, and that the roads authority goes round once a week to “grade” them. Seems I arrived about 6 days after the grader had last been round.
By Jenifer Nim6 days ago in Wander
Comments (3)
This reads like a memory. I imagined, as I read your words and was transported back too.
Oh this is perfect. Dripping with wonderful nostalgia! I'm now subsribed!
Back when an hour spent was an eternity...and now an hour of time seems to be worth pennies. Loved this take on the challenge!