As I do every day, I’ve been scanning the headlines, both for my own edification and for any tidbits that might serve as inspiration for this blog. What I have found, however, is a weird conglomeration of ups and downs, highs and lows, leaving me with more questions than answers and a sense of futility at the thought of even trying to understand this world we live in (at least until Elon Musk succeeds in populating Mars).

So, since misery really does love company, I will graciously share with you this embarrassment of riches known as the daily news (all compliments of BBC News):

1) Russian poet Lev Rubinstein dies after car crash. This beloved poet and “key figure in the Soviet underground literary scene and a critic of President Vladimir Putin, has died six days after being hit by a car in Moscow, his daughter announced.” Mr. Rubinstein, 76, had been struck by a vehicle at an intersection in Moscow on January 8th and lay in a coma, in a Moscow hospital, for several days before succumbing to his injuries. Conclusion: Bad news, obviously . . . except perhaps for Vladimir Putin, who now has one less critic to deal with. Questions: Why is there no information as to the way in which the accident occurred, whether the driver was charged, etc.? Am I simply paranoid after reading about all the recent mysterious deaths of other Putin opponents? Well, maybe . . .

2) Iceland lava slowing down after day of destruction. In this literary masterpiece of good news / bad news, we learn that — while the lava flow from the latest volcano eruption in southwest Iceland is slowing (good), it is only doing so after causing the destruction of homes in the town of Grindavik and the evacuation of the entire local population (very bad). BBC News was told by volcanologist Evgenia Ilyinskaya that “the peninsula could be entering a period of frequent eruptions, known as the New Reykjanes Fires . . . eruptions could take place ‘every few months or once a year for several decades or several centuries.’” Conclusion: Obviously horrible news. Question: Why on earth would anyone choose to live in the shadow of an active volcano? Hello? It’s not like they didn’t know it was there. The displaced families have my total sympathy, of course; but I strongly urge them to consider moving while they can.

3) Houthi missile hits US-owned cargo ship off Yemen. Very bad, obviously. But here’s my two-part question: Who are the Houthi (Houthis?) and why are they suddenly doing this? My mind is already cluttered with too many actual and potential wars; I don’t think I can handle another one.

4) Iran extends Nobel Prize winner’s prison sentence. In this story, which sounds like it’s right out of a Russian newspaper, this poor lady keeps getting more and more time tacked onto her sentence for allegedly bashing Iran’s “tyrannical” government and advocating for women’s rights, among other things. No questions on this one; it’s an all too familiar tale of actual tyranny and oppression being used to deal with legitimate opposition in the only way the government knows how.

5) Germany’s far right seek revolution in farmers’ protests. “Far-right groups have discussed toppling the German government as they seek to harness the anger of ongoing farmer protests over subsidy cuts.” I don’t know what to say about this one, except perhaps . . . Somebody warn the Kaiser!

6) King Frederik: Tens of thousands turn out for succession. At last, some happy news. All the world loves a handsome king and his beautiful wife. And at last, a monarch — his mother, Queen Margrethe — who knows when to step down. She’s 83, she has a bad back, she has been on the throne of Denmark for 52 years, and she’s decided it’s now her son’s turn. Good for you, Your Majesty. And now that you have a bit more spare time, could you please explain this concept to some of our over-aged politicians in the United States? We’d greatly appreciate it.

It is rather a shame, though, that the new King has to be the tenth Frederik of Denmark. Am I the only one who thinks his written name — Frederik X — looks like a subsidiary of an Elon Musk corporation? Yeah . . . probably. But the whole Musk “X” thing is, to me, like a case of hives — it just keeps spreading, and spreading, and spreading . . .

*. *. *

But I digress; and this could go on forever (much like those hives). So I’ll just give you one last headline and let you decide for yourselves whether you want to check out the details.

7) ‘God gave us Trump’ – evangelicals key in Iowa vote. He won the Iowa caucuses. I have absolutely no questions, and no comment. My brain has just shut down.

Good night.

Brendochka
1/17/24