For once, there is good news on the Eastern Front. The vote was held yesterday by the U.N. Human Rights Council to fill those two available seats for Eastern Europe. And, as reported by AP News, the vote was: Bulgaria – 160; Albania – 123; Russia – 83.

The country that was suspended from the very same Council last year because of its unjustified invasion of Ukraine; the country whose president is unable to travel outside Russia because of the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court by reason of his forced deportation of Ukrainian children; the country that still felt it had “a right” to regain its seat on that Council — that country has been told in no uncertain terms that it cannot simply stamp its foot and insist that its punishment is unfair. That country may see fit to act like a petulant child . . . but for once, Mama is standing firm.

There is still concern, of course, that 83 countries did vote in Russia’s favor. And since the ballot is secret, there is no way of knowing which countries they were. But that is not really surprising; Russia does still have allies scattered throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. What matters in the end is that they were vastly outnumbered.

So take your defeat like a man, Vladimir Vladimirovich. The free world has spoken.

Brendochka
10/11/23

Please excuse me while I try to control my laughter. It really isn’t a funny situation, but a headline I came across today is so ludicrous, so preposterous, so completely outlandish . . . well, either I had to laugh, or I might otherwise have punched a hole in the wall. Judge for yourselves:

“Russia says it deserves a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. It may have a shot.” [Richard Roth, CNN, October 10, 2023.]

WHAT WAS THAT??!!!

Okay, first part . . . hilarious in its audacity, but not entirely surprising, coming from Russia. Second part . . . beyond infuriating! I mean, come on! “Russia” and “Human Rights” in the same sentence, without the addition of “when pigs fly”? Instead, it says they “may have a shot”??!!! How is that even possible?

Well, in Vladimir Putin’s upside-down, through-the-looking-glass world, I suppose anything is possible, as long as it benefits him.

And seriously, this is actually being voted on in the U.N. today (Tuesday, October 10th) by the 47 members of the Human Rights Council (HRC), as three U.N. member countries — Russia, Albania and Bulgaria — vie for the two seats presently open for the Eastern European bloc. One of the three — Russia — was formerly a member of the HRC, but was suspended last year as a result of its invasion of Ukraine. And its President, Vladimir Putin, is currently confined within Russia’s borders because of the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for his arrest over the deportations of Ukrainian children. So it should be a no-brainer, right? Two open seats, two countries that haven’t been suspended . . .

But not necessarily. Because Russia — stuck with a “special military operation” that it originally believed would be successfully concluded within a matter of days when the Ukrainian people would welcome its Russian “saviors” with open arms — is now finding ways to use this dragged-out war to its advantage. In short, Vladimir Putin is counting on the world’s becoming weary of the unexpected, ongoing cost of defending and aiding Ukraine, and is simply waiting for the “forgive-and-forget” syndrome to take hold. Russians have always been known for, among other things, their patience. “Wait long enough, and you’ll have a good crop.” “Wait long enough, and you’ll get a car.”

“Wait long enough, and you’ll no longer be a pariah.”

And that patience may be paying off. The HRC’s ballots are secret, so the members are free to vote as they choose, without fear of disapproval. And Russia still has friends on the Council: China, Cuba, North Korea, and a number of African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American countries. There are also those nations that rely on Russia for grain, oil, and natural gas. So a win for Russia would also be a win for themselves. How will they vote? I don’t know . . . but it’s a selfish world. *

* NOTE: As of 11:30 p.m. (Eastern) on October 10th, the U.N. website shows nothing about a Human Rights Council vote, or even a meeting. Like the Russians, then, we wait. Maybe tomorrow . . .

*. *. *

But it’s not just Russia we should be concerned about. The CNN report quoted Human Rights Watch UN Director Louis Charbonneau as follows:

“Every day Russia and China remind us by committing abuses on a massive scale that they should not be members of the UN Human Rights Council.” He also stated that their records — as well as those of Cuba and Burundi — are “abysmal.” And yet all of those countries are vying for seats on the Council, or for reelection.

It’s hard to believe that we’re talking about the venerable United Nations: the organization on which the world has depended since 1945 to maintain some semblance of order and peace, and to protect the human rights — there’s that term again — of its eight billion men, women and children.

As you can imagine, I’m not laughing now.

Brendochka
10/11/23

On October 4th, I wrote about the recent election in Slovakia, and the unsettling political prospects for the country if the leftist Robert Fico is able to pull together a coalition party to lead the Parliament . . . the prospects, not only for Slovakia, but also for neighboring Ukraine, as well as the already disturbing political situations in the former Soviet Bloc countries of Hungary and Poland. I haven’t slept well since I began writing that piece.

And apparently, my concern has been similarly felt by a reader in Slovakia’s former “Siamese twin,” the Czech Republic. (Please note that I can’t bring myself to call it by its other name, Czechia, because of the similarity in pronunciation to Chechnya, a Russian republic in the Caucasus Mountains region headed by a brutal warlord, Ramzan Kadyrov. Any other alleged similarity between the two is completely ridiculous.)

Anyway, that reader is from Prague: the beautiful city in which I spent an idyllic three months in the perfect summer of 1991. He was kind enough to comment on my post, but with information that I found truly disturbing:

“The Czech Republic is heading down the same path to hell. It was just a coincidence that the last elections turned out well. In two years, it won’t happen again, and the Czech Republic, led by the Slovak StB agent Babis, will follow the surrounding countries.”

He was referring, pessimistically, to Andrej Babis, a man with a fascinating — well, that’s one word for it — past.

Anyone who may have been following my blog from its early days may also recall that I devoted two long chapters (Nos. 11 and 12, dated 2/3/23 and 3/2/23) to “Golden Prague” – Parts I and II. That was Czechoslovakia as I fondly remember it, and as I expected it would still be now, some 32 years later. But if my reader from Prague is correct, there may be dark clouds on the Czech Republic’s political horizon. I’m not sure of the basis for his gloomy forecast as to Mr. Babis’ political future, but I did a little research into his background. (You didn’t expect anything less, did you?)

Now 69 years old, Mr. Babis was born in Bratislava, the current capital of Slovakia. However, until 1992, it was all part of the larger nation of Czechoslovakia, and so his nationality is Czech. Thus, he is entitled to hold office in the present Czech Republic — which he has already done. From 2014-17, he served as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister; and from 2017-21, he was the Czech Prime Minister, appointed by then President Milos Zeman.

Prior to his government service, Babis had amassed a fortune (currently estimated at $3.7 Billion) as the owner of Agrofest, a huge holding company and one of the largest businesses in Slovakia. While in office, he was accused of being part of an informal power alliance with President Zeman and the Communist Party, perhaps because of his earlier history. Babis joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1980. During the ‘80s, he is said to have been an agent of the StB: the Czechoslovak Secret State Security Service. He denies having knowingly been an StB agent, though it’s difficult to imagine how anyone could possibly be that unaware and still function. In any event, his legal challenges on that subject were unsuccessful. He was also said to have been “in contact with” the Soviet KGB, which, as an StB agent, would not have been unusual.

During the years of Communist rule in the Eastern European countries that had been forcibly drawn into the Soviet Bloc, only a small minority of citizens became members of the Communist Party. These were mostly the individuals who held high party offices and enjoyed special privileges such as better housing and access to Western consumer goods. As a party member and an StB agent, Babis certainly would have fit this profile.

So it is likely on the basis of all of this information, and probably more, that my reader has become so concerned about Babis’ again running for high office in the Czech Republic . . . and understandably so. Another left-leaning Prime Minister in the Central/Eastern European region is more than a little worrisome; but much would also depend on whether there is a more moderate candidate who could defeat him. My reader would obviously know more about that than I do.

Caution is always warranted, of course, and Babis’ political moves need to be watched. And in the meantime, we also need to keep a close eye on those surrounding countries. The bad stuff in life seems to have a way of spreading; and if Babis, or someone like him, should win the office in the next election, the door to Prague would be wide open.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/10/23

It is Sunday, October 8th as I write this, and the day is barely half over. So there is plenty of time for even more noteworthy events to unfold around the world before I put this chapter out into the universe after midnight . . . though I sincerely hope things will be quiet. The early news is still focused primarily on two major disasters: the earthquake in Afghanistan, and the new war in Israel. Once again, let’s start with a look at what Ma Nature has wrought.

I think we can all agree that Afghanistan — one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 85% of its people living at or below the poverty level — has suffered more than its share of catastrophes, just within the last half century. From the invasion and occupation by the Soviet Union from December 1979 to February 1989; to the rule by the Mujahideen from 1989 until 1996, during which two civil wars erupted; to the takeover by the Taliban from 1996 to late 2001 — life in Afghanistan could easily be described as a living hell.

Then an event occurred that will forever be known to the world simply as “9-11”: the attack on the United States by the terrorist Al-Qaeda organization led by Osama bin Laden. And when bin Laden took refuge in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban, we — the United States — went after him. We remained in Afghanistan for 20 long years, chasing the Taliban into the hills, sending bin Laden to meet his Maker, and finally acting as peacekeepers. We brought home the last of our troops in August of 2021. And we’ve been castigated ever since — by some, for staying too long; and by others, for leaving too soon. It’s a hot-button political issue that has not been resolved by the experts, and certainly would not be resolved by my opinions today.

But we all know that, when we did finally leave, the Taliban wasted no time in swooping back in. They quickly regained control of the Afghan government, and they wasted no further time in breaking every single promise they had made to the people of Afghanistan and to the world — promises of reform, and of being a “kinder, gentler” Taliban — and instead they have brought the country from a state of disrepair to one of total, unremitting despair.

Now, add to that the misery caused by the frequent earthquakes and other natural calamities that befall these poor, downtrodden people, and you cannot help crying for them. And here they are, in the news again, reeling from yet another quake that has so far claimed a reported 2,000+ lives, an as-yet-unknown number of injuries, and widespread devastation. Aid is on the way, but how much is able to reach them will depend upon what the ruling Taliban allows.

The future is always unknown; but what lies ahead for Afghanistan does not look hopeful at this time. As with so much of life, we can only wait and hope for the best.

*. *. *

And now, back to Israel. War has officially been declared against Hamas by Israel, whose Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said his country is “embarking on a long and difficult war.” Hamas has not only attacked the civilian population; they have taken hostages, including women and children, and have even paraded a young female hostage, half naked, on an open vehicle through the streets of an Israeli town. That is not war; that is barbarism, plain and simple. And Israel will not let that pass unanswered.

*. *. *

It’s now dinnertime (Eastern), and the news is filled with ever-increasing estimates of those already killed in this first full day of the Israeli-Gaza war. There are rumors that Iran may have been involved in the planning and execution of the Hamas attack, though as of this time those rumors have not been verified.

And already, Turkey’s President Erdogan, who has supported Palestinians in the past, has offered his purportedly unbiased services as negotiator: the one man who (he says) is best suited to bring peace, or at least a truce, to a region that has never really known peace. I hope he’s more successful than he has been in negotiating between Russia and Ukraine.

We sometimes forget that a conflict in the Middle East invariably affects more than just the Middle East. Already, synagogues and Jewish schools in the United States are adding greater security to their buildings to protect against possible terrorist attacks. Back in 1994, while transiting through the Rome airport, I witnessed the immediate mobilization of the Italian military when news was received of a shooting — “just” a shooting, not an all-out declaration of war — in the West Bank of Israel. So I can only imagine how Europe is reacting to this weekend’s news. We are a world on edge.

*. *. *

I’m not feeling very upbeat today, but in my reading I did find one almost amusing example of history doing what it does best: repeating itself. This was part of an analysis as to why the Soviet Union was forced to withdraw from Afghanistan in 1989:

“The Soviet soldiers occupied much of Afghanistan, but they could never control the whole country. Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan lacked the proper military tactics for guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan’s rugged mountainous terrain, and many of the Soviet troops were young conscripts who were untested in combat.” [Emphasis is mine.]

Substitute “Ukraine” for “Afghanistan,” and you’ve got today’s Russian army trying to take over a determined, motivated country that doesn’t want to be taken . . . a Russian army using mostly “young conscripts” and suffering a lack of “proper military tactics.” They just don’t seem able to remember even their own history.

All of which has brought back a fond memory of my own. In 1990, while at a conference in London on doing business in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, I became involved in a somewhat heated discussion with one of the speakers — a high-ranking Soviet Foreign Ministry official — who made the mistake of criticizing the long-past involvement of the U.S. in Vietnam. I tried to cool things down a bit by conceding that that bit of history had not ended as one of America’s finest moments, but he wouldn’t let it go. So I said, “Well, let’s just call it America’s Afghanistan.” At that point, he puffed up like a blowfish and fell back on the standard Soviet retort when there was no other answer: “That is an internal matter.” Forcing myself not to laugh, I replied, “Oh, yeah? Tell that to the Afghanis” — and walked away as he turned beet red and tried, unsuccessfully, to think of something to say.

It was a glorious moment, as some of my colleagues, who had been standing nearby and witnessed the whole exchange, did everything but applaud. Sometimes the fates just hand you the perfect opportunity and the right words to take advantage of it. That was my moment.

*. *. *

Hopefully, that’s it for today, as it’s the middle of the night in Israel. With any luck, it will be a quieter one.

Brendochka
10/9/23

What is going on? Weekends are usually on the quiet side in the news world, except for an occasional natural disaster. Well, sadly we do have a couple this weekend . . . along with some unexpected displays of man’s-inhumanity-to-man, as though we needed any more of those. But let’s start with Mother Nature, shall we?

Two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes struck western Afghanistan near the city of Herat today, with at least one 5.5-magnitude aftershock being felt. The latest news report says that “dozens” of people were killed and “many more” injured, while local estimates were of 100 killed and 500 or more injured. The United Nations reports that the figures are still being verified.

And speaking of earthquakes . . . Although in terms of the human toll, Afghanistan’s tremors have been far worse, Hawaii yesterday took the prize for the sheer number of events when it experienced some 320 earthquakes in 24 hours due to the continued rumblings of Kilauea Volcano. Although it hasn’t started erupting yet, Kilauea — one of the Earth’s most active volcanoes — has shown signs of “elevated unrest,” according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) news release, with small streams of smoke seeping up from the volcano’s Halema’uma’u crater. Officials have warned of “potentially hazardous levels of volcanic gas in downwind areas and rockfalls enhanced by earthquakes,” with possible hazardous levels of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Surrounding trails, viewing areas and parking lots in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have been temporarily closed. Good move.

When Jesse Stone (pen name: Charles Calhoun) wrote the hit song “Shake, Rattle and Roll” in 1954, I really don’t think this is what he had in mind. But our planet seems to be doing a lot of it lately, and it can’t stop too soon for me.

*. *. *

Next . . .

In the seemingly limitless category of man-made disasters, we have to start with Israel today, where the early morning quiet was shockingly disrupted by a barrage of rockets being fired from Gaza by Palestinian Hamas militants. In an obviously well-planned assault, Hamas gunmen charged into a score of Israeli locations outside the Gaza Strip, some as far as 15 miles from the Gaza border. As reported by the Associated Press (AP):

“In some places, they roamed for hours, gunning down civilians and soldiers as Israel’s military scrambled to muster a response. Gun battles continued well after nightfall, and militants held hostages in standoffs in two towns and occupied a police station in a third. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 250 people were killed and 1,500 wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades.”

Retaliatory airstrikes were launched by Israel into Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is quoted as saying the country is now at war with Hamas; he vowed to inflict an “unprecedented price.” Exchanges of air strikes and rocket barrages have already begun, with Netanyahu warning that “This war will take time. It will be difficult.”

“Take time”??!!! It’s already taken centuries. With both sides having valid, conflicting claims, and neither willing to compromise, I ask once again — as I seem to do so often lately — WHEN WILL IT END?

And this time, I also have to ask what happened to Israel’s legendary intelligence agencies? Were they asleep at the switch? This was simply unthinkable two days ago. Today, it’s reality.

*. *. *

And on the Russian front . . .

It almost seems anticlimactic today, but self-styled Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has been keeping himself relevant again by making further threats on behalf of his real boss, Vladimir Putin. In his latest harangue, he again blames the United States for Russia’s war — or “Special Military Operation” — in Ukraine, saying:

“I am getting the impression — I say again that it is my opinion — that Americans are pushing Russians toward using the most terrifying weapon. They arm Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky and his army and provide long-range missiles. Even missiles able to fly for 300 km [186 miles].” He added that if such a missile were to strike Russian territory, Moscow would be obliged to respond. [Mariya Knight, CNN, October 6, 2023.]

Not yet satisfied, he continued that the “fanning of tensions” between the U.S. and Russia could result in Russia’s “[taking] out the red button and [putting] it on the table.” There’s that implied “n” word again: “nuclear.”

Lukashenko’s threats came a day after Vladimir Putin expressed the opinion that it would be possible to revoke the ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty. Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also put in his two cents’ worth by promising that the State Duma Council “will definitely discuss the issue of revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty” at their next meeting. [Mariya Knight, CNN, October 6, 2023.]

Lukashenko further seized the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Congress’ inability to agree on continued assistance to Ukraine, calling it a signal for Ukraine “to hurry up, expand the scope of the counteroffensive and throw more young men there.” It doesn’t take long for Putin and his puppets to seize on our problems and turn them to their advantage. And we never seem to remember that.

*. *. *

That’s enough grim news for one weekend — actually, just half a weekend. I’m sure if I kept digging I could find more, but I’ve lost the drive. I wonder why.

Brendochka
10/8/23

I’m sorry, folks, but after searching Saturday’s news for something — anything — that might be amusing, or at least wouldn’t send everyone running for a place to hide, this is the best I could come up with: a box of giraffe poop seized from an arriving passenger at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Her answer to the obvious question: because she wanted to make a necklace out of it. Presumably to be worn, either by herself or some lucky recipient. Poop. Giraffe poop. Excrement. Feces. From Kenya. Big, round chunks of the stuff. See for yourselves . . .

Now, apparently it is legal to bring this . . . uh . . . product into the country, but only with a proper veterinary license. Though why even a veterinarian would need it, is beyond me. In any event, this lady says she has made jewelry creations in the past from moose poop (I assume from local animals, not imported), and was undoubtedly excited at the prospect of branching out to some more exotic species, such as a Kenyan giraffe. In her favor, she did list the item on her Customs declaration, and perhaps she simply didn’t know she needed a license. But she apparently also hadn’t done her research into the possible diseases carried by this . . . uh . . . product. Kenya is host to several types of swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and the like, and wearing a decorative item made of the . . . uh . . . baubles could prove disastrous. So, it’s lucky our Customs folks were on their toes — as, I assume, were the giraffes when they produced the . . . uh . . . stuff back home in Kenya.

I don’t believe the lady was charged with any crime or violation, since she had indeed declared her . . . uh . . . contraband. But I find myself wondering whether she shouldn’t be encouraged to seek counseling, and perhaps be guided toward a more traditional hobby. Soap-making comes immediately to mind.

*. *. *

In second place for fun item of the day would be the annual Fat Bear Week competition at Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska. These majestic creatures have spent the summer gorging on salmon (and whatever else they eat) to fatten themselves up in preparation for the long winter hibernation, when their sleeping bodies live off of the stored fat.

These big fellas apparently have names, like “Otis,” “Bear 747” (the reigning champ), and “32 Chunk,” and the competition is fierce. This year’s online contest, though, was one of the government programs in danger of being cancelled if Congress hadn’t been able to push through a stopgap funding deal. Thank goodness it was saved in time!

For all you bear-lovers out there, the voting opened at noon (Eastern time) on Wednesday, and will conclude on October 10th. Last year, there were more than a million votes cast, so it’s not some rinky-dink little contest. Check it out and cast your vote at http://www.fatbearweek.org. Good luck to all of our beautiful contestants, and sweet dreams until spring.

TTFN,
Brendochka
10/7/23

First of all, it’s a bird. A rather large seabird, ranging in size from 6.6 to 11 pounds, with a wingspan of 59-83 inches and a body length of 31-37 inches. In flight, it is described as bearing a slight resemblance to an albatross; but it is a particularly ugly bird, with a huge beak and small, suspicious-looking, beady eyes. At one time, petrels were thought to be a divine warning that storms were on their way; they have been referred to as “water witches,” “Satanites,” and “birds of the devil,” due to their association with storms. But that’s not all they are today.

The Russian word for a petrel is burevestnik. Now, where have I heard that word before, and what does it matter?

Ah, yes, I remember — it’s what the Russians have chosen to name their newest generation of nuclear-powered cruise missile. They — the birds, not the missiles — are “extremely aggressive and will kill other seabirds (usually penguin chicks, sick or injured adult penguins and the chicks of other seabirds), even those as large as an albatross, which they kill either by battering them to death or drowning. At sea, they feed on krill, squid, and fish.”

Okay . . . now I see the connection. In March of 2018, it — the missile, not the bird — was described by Vladimir Putin as “a low-flying stealth missile carrying a nuclear warhead, with almost unlimited range, unpredictable trajectory and ability to bypass interception boundaries.” So they’re both — the birds and the missiles — basically killing machines that swoop in and terminate anything and everything in their path. And I really don’t know how I feel about that “unpredictable trajectory” thing. Plus, to cap it off, in 2019 the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) quoted Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov as describing the Burevestnik thus: “a weapon of retaliation, which Russia would use after Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles to finish military and civilian infrastructure and not leave a chance of survival.” [All quotes from Tim Lister and Sergey Gudkov, CNN, October 5, 2023.]

Well, that’s pretty specific. It’s also pretty much what one would expect from a nuclear weapon: total annihilation. But why would Vladimir Putin choose this particular time to be testing new nuclear-powered missiles? And why announce it at the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club (a Russian think tank) in the resort city of Sochi, Russia, where it was bound to make the worldwide news reports? Is it to be taken as a warning that “a storm is on the way”? Or is it just more of the saber-rattling for which Mr. Putin is so well-known? We don’t know, of course; although it does seem to tie in nicely with the constant prattling of his Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, about a nuclear response. And it’s just one more thing to add to our list of reasons for insomnia.

*. *. *

But we’re apparently not the only ones plagued by a lack of sleep; Putin has also had cause lately to lie awake at night . . . which, when you think about it, is only fair. The reason? “Authorities in Russia are looking into an alleged plot to ‘remove’ President Vladidmir Putin, according to a report, after receiving a tip about a suspicious conversation in a karaoke bar.” [Dan Ladden-Hall, Daily Beast, October 5, 2023; as also reported by Telegram Channel VChK-OGPU.] *

* NOTE: This is the first I’ve heard of this particular Telegram (social media) channel, VChK-OGPU, which appears to have named itself after the Russian security service of the 1920s, which later became the KGB. Am I the only one who finds that odd? Odd, and a little disturbing?

Okay, it’s a “report” on a “tip” about a “suspicious conversation” held “in a karaoke bar.” Hardly what one would call a reliable source. But these things can’t be ignored, so let’s see what’s going on, according to this “report.” It seems that the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) have been searching for an employee of an unspecified law enforcement agency, after being tipped to a “secret conspiracy against the head of state.” That employee reportedly had received a call from a man named Mikhail Yurchenko, who was alarmed to have had a conversation with yet another man (the one in the bar) “about the war and future life in Russia.” That third man showed Yurchenko something called a “red service ID,” and said that he had been tasked “to remove Vladimir Putin.” Wisely, Mr. Yurchenko reported the incident to the proper authorities. I am surprised, though, that Mr. Yurchenko’s name has been made public. Wouldn’t that place him in serious jeopardy if the threat turns out to be real? If that’s even his real name, of course.

Now, we all know that famous people — and particularly people in positions of power — live constantly with the knowledge that there are others out there who really, really don’t like them, and are unstable enough to try to harm them. In other words, the world is full of crazies. And it seems that Vladimir Putin has become completely paranoid, to the extent that he no longer even trusts his own security details. Add this recent report to the mix, and he must be going bonkers.

I don’t know that we’ll ever learn the result of this investigation, unless someone is actually arrested, thereby demonstrating the efficiency of Putin’s security forces. But it’s an interesting side story, and I just thought I’d share it with you today.

And by the way, if you’re waiting for an expression of sympathy from me for Vladimir Putin’s nerve-wracking situation . . . don’t waste your time. It’s not gonna happen.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/7/23

I love Broadway shows. Old ones, new ones, and especially the musicals . . . I just can’t get enough of them. They are, for me, the perfect escape mechanism. I settle down in my seat as the lights dim, the orchestra charges headlong into the overture, and I feel that little thrill of anticipation as I leave my world behind and allow myself to be transported into whatever world awaits onstage. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Okay, so I’m not old enough to have seen a Busby Berkeley spectacular. My mother was, though, and I’ve seen film clips of a few of them. What they lacked in talent, they made up for in sheer numbers, beautiful costumes, and perfect timing. They were the Broadway hits of their day, and the forerunners of our Cats and Lion King.

It all began for me with My Fair Lady, way back in the late 1950s or early ‘60s. It had opened in New York in 1956, and when the road company finally came to Washington’s National Theater, my mother treated herself, my sister and me to three orchestra seats . . . at the bargain price of $4.40 apiece. I believe the New York price was a shocking $8.80. Anyway, I remember sitting there, totally enthralled at the glorious spectacle taking place before my eyes — the sights, the sounds, the color, the very energy of it. And how the entire audience roared when Eliza Doolittle belted out those memorable words at the Ascot races: “C’mon, Dover, move yer bloomin’ arse!” The movies couldn’t compete with this; these people were real! And I was hooked.

Some of my all-time favorites are also some of the oldest: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classics, Carousel, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music. They don’t write scores like that anymore. But so many of the more recent productions have also been nothing short of phenomenal. Such as . . .

Cats and The Lion King: I lump these two together because — aside from the glorious music — they are most memorable for the costuming and the astonishingly lifelike representations of animals. I remember a young family seated in front and a little to the left of us at Lion King. The boy and girl were probably around eight and ten years old, and the expressions on their faces as the cast of animals danced down the aisle, right past them, toward the stage . . . That alone was worth the price of admission — which, I assure you, was no longer $4.40.

Chicago: We almost missed the opening number of this one. Something had caused massive traffic jams in the city, and all the parking garages were full, also for some unremembered reason. I finally used my handicap parking tag (from an earlier surgery) to talk my way into a garage where the nice attendant made a space for me in a corner (and earned himself a big tip). I limped convincingly up the ramp to the street . . . where we then took off and ran the two blocks to the National Theater just in time to be seated before the doors were closed. Drastic times call for drastic measures. And what a show it was!

Fiddler On the Roof: What can I say? Seeing Zero Mostel in this one was nothing short of a privilege, and the music and dancing were incomparable. I couldn’t help visualizing my grandparents in the setting of a Russian shtetl (Jewish settlement, or small village), and I wept shamelessly at the end of the show as they were forced to leave and become part of the diaspora from their Russian homeland. And I’m happy to say that the later movie, starring Topol in the role originated by Zero Mostel, is also outstanding. I must have watched it 100 times by now, and I still cry as they leave their run-down little village of Anatevka. Can’t help it. (At the theater performance, I wept out loud. But so did half the audience, so it wasn’t noticeable.)

Les Miserables: Hands down my all-time favorite. When this show first came to the Kennedy Center, I didn’t want to see it. I mean, how on earth could anyone make a movie out of one of the most depressing books ever written? But while it was playing, I had occasion to go to the Kennedy Center box office to pick up tickets for another show. I happened to walk by the Opera House venue just as Les Miz was ending and the doors were being opened. When I heard the closing strains from the orchestra pit, and the eruption of cheers from the audience, I stopped dead in my tracks, turned around, and galloped back to the box office to try to get tickets for any performance. Of course, it was sold out . . . and I kicked myself all the way back to my office. I finally did see it when it returned the following year . . . and a second time at the Kennedy Center . . . and once at the National Theater . . . and the Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia . . . and at Wolf Trap Farm Park. (And by the way, the movie of this one doesn’t come close to the real thing — a poor imitation.)

It’s not all about musical comedy, though. One of the greatest thrills of all time was seeing Mikhail Baryshnikov perform Swan Lake at the Kennedy Center. And being able to attend operas at the Bol’shoi Theatre in Moscow and the Kirov (now renamed the Mariinsky) in St. Petersburg, Russia. And the concerts by Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, and others in the ‘50s and ‘60s at Washington’s outdoor Carter Barron Amphitheater. And Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme at a little nightclub at 14th and I Streets in downtown D.C.; guitarist Charlie Byrd at the Showboat Lounge on uptown 18th Street; Neil Diamond at the Capital One Arena; and dancing to the old-time Mills Brothers at another 14th Street club; Judy Garland in San Francisco and, years later, her daughter Liza Minnelli back in Washington . . . I was so incredibly lucky to have been born when I was!

I wonder if today’s kids will look back on their good times with the same sense of nostalgia that my generation does. I hope so. Of course, didn’t our parents wonder the same thing about us?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/6/23

Are they emboldened by the talk of reduced assistance to Ukraine from the United States, U.K., Poland, and other NATO nations? Or are they simply savage, murderous barbarians, intent on taking as many innocent lives as possible in their mad lust for land and power? And should we even be talking about “they” . . . or just “he”?

While our Congress spends its time arguing like children over which former Speaker gets to sit in what office, funding for Ukraine assistance sits on a back burner . . . and people die. While Slovakia votes for a party whose leader is openly and proudly pro-Putin . . . people die. And while Turkey’s President Erdogan unashamedly cozies up to the killer in the Kremlin . . . people die.

We, the United States of America, are supposed to be the world’s leader, not only economically, but morally as well. Just saying we stand behind Ukraine isn’t nearly enough; we need to back up our words with actions. Congress needs to get off its collective ass and get back to the real work for which it was elected. And President Biden — I don’t presume to tell you how to do your job, sir — but perhaps a bit less Mr. Nice Guy and a lot more action . . .

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/5/23

Let’s see now — so many choices from last week’s news. Which one to pick as my subject du jour? The government nearly shutting down? It’s happened before. New York City flooding? Bad, but it needed a thorough washing. Trump suing Christopher Steele over allegations in his infamous dossier? Interesting, but there’s not much really new about another Trump lawsuit. I know — Cardi B. loves Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt! Really? I should write about that? I admire the Roosevelts too, but nobody’s interviewing me about it. So . . . pass. There’s more about the destruction of Nagorno-Karabakh, the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein, and of course the never-ending war in Ukraine . . .

But wait a second — let’s go back to that Cardi B. thing. I’m curious as to what this . . . er, uh . . . unique individual might have to say about one of American history’s most accomplished and admired couples. So let’s take a look, just for fun.

First, these comments were made during an appearance on something called “First We Feast,” while she apparently munched on hot wings. Charming. Between bites, some of her views on today’s hottest topics were:

1) Extraterrestrials: She doesn’t believe in aliens. (Well, that’s too bad, because I understand they’re really hot for her.)

2) Her wigs: she ranks them, such as “cute” or “scammer.” (What the hell is a “scammer” wig? Is that the one she wears while she’s trying to convince the public that she’s a real entertainer?)

3) Clean versions of her songs: She doesn’t like them — says they’re “so annoying.” (I can’t even.)

4) Then there was a question about the time she took David Letterman out for a cheese sandwich. Seriously. I didn’t really understand that one, because she responded: “That wasn’t even like my favorite part . . . I don’t even care about that part. What stays in my mind for a long time is that I went to FDR’s house.” Sorry about that, Letterman. I hope you, like, at least enjoyed the cheese sandwich.

From this, the interviewer leapt to the conclusion that Ms. B. is “into history,” including the lives of the former president and first lady. Her affirmation: “If anybody loves me, knows me, knows that I love FDR. And I love Eleanor Roosevelt.” Yes, we love you, too, Cardi — We do! We do! And we know all about, like, how you love FDR and Eleanor! (In case you hadn’t noticed, I have a “thing” about the misuse of “like.” It’s beyond annoying.)

But then she went on to amaze her audience with her extensive knowledge of the history of the Roosevelt era: the fact that FDR was the only U.S. president to be elected four times; and how he steered the country through the Great Depression “while he’s in a wheelchair.” She also got a kick out of visiting the house in which Eleanor Roosevelt lived apart from her husband because, according to Cardi the Historian, “FDR’s mama, she was always around and [Eleanor] ain’t really like that. Eleanor wanted her space. Just like me, I want my space all the time.” And she added that she is “obsessed” with World War II and wants to learn everything about it. Everything!

Wow! That is truly newsworthy — so much so that even the History Channel took notice and posted on X (formerly known as, like, Twitter), “Looks like you may have a history career in your future @iamcardib.” And never one to allow the other guy to have the last word, she shared that with her followers, with a stuttering comment: “OMGGG.”

*. *. *

Enough said. Believe it or not, the purpose of this discussion is not to ridicule Ms. B’s interests, her intellect, or her command of the English language (although she really does provide plenty of ammunition, doesn’t she?). No, what I really want to point out is the level to which our — the public’s — interests have sunk. Stop the average person on the street and ask about Afghanistan (the country), or the purpose of the Electoral College (not a university), or the Polar ice caps (not a hockey team); and chances are you’ll get a blank stare that will last so long you’ll begin wondering whether you’re talking to a real-life zombie. But bring up the latest Hollywood divorce, or the attendance at the recent Taylor Swift concert, or who Mick Jagger is leaving his fortune to, and you’ll be rewarded with more information than you ever could have hoped for.

Because that’s how disconnected from the real world we’ve become. Once again, I remind you that I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist. But it seems to me that this mass retreat from the more serious side of life could well be attributable, at least in part, to the overwhelming volume of horrific news with which we are bombarded every day, day after day after day, such as the few examples I gave at the beginning of this sermon. And there has to be a saturation point — different for each individual — at which we simply turn it off, tune it out, and shut ourselves down. Then we turn for relief to the simple, the mindless, the foolish side of life — and if it’s someone else’s life, so much the better.

Or maybe . . . just maybe . . . there’s a little bit of the voyeur in all of us. Could it be that simple?

There’s nothing wrong with a little mindless fun, of course. But it’s not the be-all-and-end-all of life. So what’s the solution? How do we face the everyday realities of our world — the wars, the mass killings, the natural disasters — and still leave room in our minds and hearts for the good stuff? Because there is good stuff. Although we don’t see it in the daily news reports, since — as I’ve said many times before — if it’s good, it’s apparently not news.

Oddly enough, however, I do find a large measure of goodness on, of all things, Facebook.

For years, I avoided all social media as being pretty much a waste of time, as well as a source of too much information going out to too many people. But I finally added my profile to the Facebook family when I started this blog last year, as a means of promoting it. And it worked. I also reconnected with some very dear friends from years past whom I am thrilled to have back in my life. And I’ve found a world of friendship, and goodness, and humor, and warmth in the everyday postings about cute animals, babies, memories, and travelogs — all things that reassure me that there are many, many good people out there, doing good things for each other, and generally enjoying life.

But life, like silliness, is also about more than social media. It’s about connecting, and learning, and experiencing, and growing. For me, it’s been about years of traveling and soaking up the sights and sounds and tastes of foreign lands. And now that I can’t travel any longer, it’s about keeping in touch with those old friends; and reading — everything I can get my. hands on; and writing, writing, writing. In the simplest of terms, it’s about balance.

And that all makes it just a little easier to bear the load of bad stuff we can’t control . . . even the simple, mindless, foolish stuff. Even Cardi B.

And life goes on.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/5/23