My chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Digital Diplomacy, edited by Corneliu Bjola and Ilan Manor (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 491-510).

От тяжеломыслия страдает и голова, и шея, и весь опорно-двигательный аппарат. А от легкомыслия страдают, прежде всего, сами мысли.

And suddenly you notice the sky and are surprised by its beauty. Oh, what a miracle! And how did you not notice it for so long? And in the sky, you see a flock of birds drawing wonderful loops. You are fascinated by watching the free flight of these heavenly creatures, forgetting about everything in the world. Oh no, you find that the birds don’t just make loops; they weave intricate signs in and out of the air! These are signs from heaven, and they are intended for you.

“Look, look around, open your eyes, open your soul!” the bizarre signs tell you. And you open your eyes and see clouds, and then trees around, and the ground under your feet. You see grass, stones, and ants. And people, many of whom, alas, turn out to be gloomy and even angry. And you stand among them, smiling, wanting them, like you, to look at the sky, and then around.

Suddenly one, and then another, and then others turn their gaze to the sky, and after this they look around in surprise. And a wonderful smile lights up their faces.