Earth Tiger: Wood Season: 3d

15 Mar ~~ 18 Mar

Hacking and pruning of the fresh growth. Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring. There is a very strong sense of pointless and senseless loss -- a loss without meaning or purpose. Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly.
Weather: hopeful signs of Spring are dissipated when temperatures drop and the cold returns. The weather this week could be very wild indeed -- strong motions and very mixed. This is at the balance point or turning of the Seasons.
The Fulfilment:
Albania: American Marines in helicopters swoop in to rescue foreigners from cities in chaos. Govt is now arming civilians and sending them to the barricades to defend the regime. President Berisha will not quit! "Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring. Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."
Italy: Naval patrol ship, stolen from the Albanian navy and loaded top the gunnels with about 900 Albanian refugees, runs aground on the Italian side of the Adriatic, but all are rescued by the Italian coast guard. "Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring."
Zaire: City of Kisangani falls to the rebels after govt defenders fall to fighting with hired Serb mercenaries and then obth flee the scene. Kisangani is the last big target between rebels and Kinshasa. "Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."
Uganda: Rebel leader killed today in a battle with govt troops after his group was driven out of Zaire. "Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."
Canada: Quebec: Bloc Quebecois (the Blocheads) chooses Gilles Duceppe as its new leader in Parliament. Sour losers talking about quitting the party.
Albania: Thousands march for peace through the streets of Tiranë. New violence erupts in port of Durrës as civilians try to flee to Italy and police block the way. American helicopter plucks 60 Albanians from the sea when their ship capsized. Refugees have stolen most of the country's navy for use as makeshift transport to Italy. "Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring. Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones" -- again: military transport (ships and helicopters) used to rescue civilians (innocents, like children). Interesting!
Israel: King Hussein of Jordan visits to give personal condolences to families of the schoolgirls slain on visit to his country. "There is a very strong sense of pointless and senseless loss -- a loss without meaning or purpose."
El Salvador: Midterm Congressional elections today, with the Marxist rebel party expected to win or almost win in a close race.
Burma: Mandalay: News that a Muslim man had raped a young Buddhist girl and then tried to pay off her family has prompted thousands of Buddhist monks to riot in the streets and to loot a mosque. Government hastily imposes a curfew, but it is only partially successful. "Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring. There is a very strong sense of pointless and senseless loss -- a loss without meaning or purpose."
Albania: Hundreds rescued from drifting antique ship in the Adriatic by the Italian coast guard. "Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring."
Azerbaijan: Almost 50 killed when a bus plunges off a bridge, including 12 children. "Keep the children safe, for they are the embodiment of the new life of Spring. There is a very strong sense of pointless and senseless loss -- a loss without meaning or purpose."
Belgium: Fire bomb attack on pub frequented by North Africans kills four people. "There is a very strong sense of pointless and senseless loss -- a loss without meaning or purpose."
UK: John Major calls an election for 1 May and the polls say the Tories will lose very badly.
S.Korea: Hanbo Steel bribery trial begins today and President Kim's son apologises before the nation for his part in the scandal.
Papua New Guinea: Military refuses to accept any more orders from the govt of PM Sir Julius Chan and instead demands his resignation. "Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."
Zaire: Kinshasa is descending into chaos as thousands of civilians connected with the Mobutu regime make plans to flee as the rebels advance.
Israel: Govt vows to begin construction of the new settlement this week and the Arabs are vowing to block it.
Mexico: Prison riot begins today (and ends tomorrow) that leaves seven dead and 52 injured by tomorrow morning.
Albania: Tiranë: Order is restored in the capital and people begin to clean up the mess, but rebels still hold a dozen southern cities.
Russia: Yeltsin pushing for ratification by parliament of an international treaty banning chemical weapons. USA still has not ratified it either.
Russia: Small passenger jet explodes and crashes en route to Turkey -- all fifty aboard killed.
Germany: Ten soldiers viciously attack two Turks and an Italian in a racial conflict. Victims not seriously hurt but badly shaken. Interesting example of intimidation with military overtones, isn't it? Not what I had in mind at all, but very appropriate all the same ...
China: North Korean defector is spirited away from Beijing under cover of darkness to freedom in the Philippines.
Japan: Shipload of nuclear waste arrives in a rural fishing town for long-term storage. The local people come out to protest it of course.
Pakistan: Policemen ambushed in their car at a railway crossing early today -- seven dead. "The sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."
Algeria: Six bombs today kill 18 people and wound dozens. "Hacking and pruning of the fresh growth. There is a very strong sense of pointless and senseless loss -- a loss without meaning or purpose."
Papua New Guinea: PM Chan accuses his chief of staff of treason and dismisses him from service. Not over yet! "Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."
Israel: Surveyors and earth-movers arrive today to begin settlement construction on the last empty hill overlooking Old Jerusalem. Hordes of Arabs protest, but Israelis declare the construction site to be a military zone and move in troops to guard it. "Political intimidation on these days will have the strongest military overtones --- the sword will be unsheathed and the intentions will be deadly."

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