Note: All of the following photographs have been seen many times before, individually. But thanks to CNN for putting them, and more, together in one place; you’ve made this endeavor much easier.

When I meet someone new, the first thing I look at is the person’s eyes. The rest can wait a minute, while I get a sense of the character of the individual. Because the eyes are where it shows. A gracious smile, a warm “pleased to meet you,” even a firm handshake, can all be rehearsed. But the eyes, as William Shakespeare told us, “are the window to your soul.”

I will never meet Vladimir Putin. But looking at a series of photographs of his life as compiled by CNN, I was immediately struck by the eyes in each and every picture. Whether laughing, serious, concentrating or relaxed, those eyes said only one thing to me: RUN! RUN LIKE HELL!

I present a few of them here, without commentary. See what you think:

And now, having looked carefully at each photograph, I would like you to think about your answer to one simple question:

“Would you buy a used car from this man?”

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/9/24

* If you must know — although the very end of the second word is not visible — I’m quite certain the writing on the young woman’s back says “F*ck off, Putin.” But it’s not her back he seems to be focused on.