Category: Fourre-tout

Life is full of surprises, and the Fates who determine the course of human life, like to make heroes out of the most unlikely individuals. People like Volodymyr Zelensky.

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve

In war-torn Ukraine, this is what Volodymyr Zelensky (a comedian turned politician) did, despite overwhelming odds. In dire situations, ordinary leaders usually prefer to flee rather than fight, but Zelensky chose to remain and lead the combat against the invaders.

“The United States and Turkey have both reportedly offered Mr. Zelensky an extraction out of Ukraine, but he has refused to leave. The Washington Post quoted Mr. Zelensky as saying: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”

 You cannot help liking a guy like that. In just a few short hours, he became a hero, praised by all the world’s democracies. “Ukrainians are proud of their President” and are galvanized by his resolve and steadfastness. Such a leader inspires his followers and increases their will to fight to the bitter end.

Russia’s commander in chief claims that Zelensky is a “fascist” running a “Nazi” regime. Hardly. The Ukrainian president is Jewish and lost several family members during the Holocaust. It is difficult to imagine that such a man would be a “fascist.”

Unfortunately, heroes tend to have a short lifespan. Despite some losses and some setbacks, the Russian behemoth will probably prevail and Zelensky will be in great danger. But he is a hero precisely because of this; knowing that his life is hanging by a thread and continuing to fight.

Regardless of the outcome of this detestable war, Volodymyr Zelensky deserves world admiration and a special spot in Valhalla.

Alain

As a child of WWII, I deeply empathize and sympathize with the plight of the Ukrainian people. The brutal, unprovoked attack by Russia on Ukraine bears an uncanny similitude with Nazi Germany’s attack on Poland in 1939.

In 1939, an overwhelming Nazi juggernaut subdued a courageous but underequipped Polish army in a matter of days. The same fate awaits Ukraine which is no match for the Russian giant.

But this unthinkable aggression could be the beginning of the end for the wolf in sheep clothing who has ruled Russia for the last 20 years. Invading a weaker country is one thing; keeping it indefinitely under its thumb is another one.

The similitude of Hitler’s and Putin’s actions is undeniable. Russia is already the largest country in the world with an enormous area of 17,098,250 square kilometers. By comparison, Canada, the second-largest country in the world is half its size with 9,879,750 square kilometers.

But still, this is not enough for the Kremlin’s ogre. Like Hitler, he wants to extend his hegemony over an even larger area. But unlike in 1939, the Russian people are not overwhelmingly enthusiastic about their Capo di tutti capi’s actions. Small demonstrations have already started in Russia and around the world, and they will intensify as days go by.

The Russian people will also feel the pain. In the coming weeks, due to the economic pressure applied by the West, oligarchs and plain folks alike will see their standard of living deep significantly. Soon they will start to grumble, and later, when pressure intensifies, no amount of vodka is going to prevent them from rioting.

The end will come with the imploding of the Kremlin’s monopoly. It will start when the Russian casualties will become known to the public at large, and intensify with the increased cost of living. It might take a little while, but plain Russian folks are not as fanatical as the Hitlerian hordes. They don’t crave more territory, they just want more freedom and a better standard of living

Just like in the Godfather’s saga, the “Capo di tutti capi” will meet his fate at the hands of his own entourage. And it will be a grim ending for the man who desperately wanted to be the unrestricted “Tsar of all the Russias.”

Shortly after the erection of the Berlin Wall, in 1963 President Kennedy said in a speech “ich bin ein Berliner” and today like him, I am saying “I am a Ukrainian”.

Alain

Parking has become one of the greatest nuisances of the 21^st century. Today, you cannot go anywhere without a car, and when you arrive at your destination, your misery begins.

Regardless of your mode of transportation (bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or even horseback), after your ride, you need to securely park it. And unfortunately, there always seem to be more cars than available parking spots.

In the olden days, there was one car per family. Today everybody drives, and you can easily have 3 cars per household, hence the problem! Most everybody enjoys driving but (unless you are a certified masochist) everybody hates searching for a parking spot.

Now, before you curse me and start legal proceedings against me, I want to reiterate that I love women… except when they loiter in a parking lot. When you drive into a parking area and see a man walking toward his car, you are almost certain that this upstanding fellow will vacate his spot within minutes.

But when a woman enters her car, her liftoff time can vary between 5 minutes to 2 days. I don’t know why it takes so long for her to depart, but while fretting in my own car, I have come up with some hypotheses.

First, a woman cannot drive away without first glancing at the rearview mirror, checking hair, eyeliner, lipstick, and foraging in her handbag. Then, she probably must call somebody (boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, shrink) to give them the latest dope about her expedition. If she is gabby or annoyed, this could take a good 10 to 15 minutes. Messages also have to be deciphered and answered. This also adds significantly to the waiting time.

She might have to change shoes. These stiletto heels are good to impress a customer or a lover, but there are very unpractical for operating a vehicle. Tennis shoes are much easier on the foot, and let you clearly feel the gas pedal and the brake pedal.

I am not exactly the image of patience and waiting 20 minutes for somebody to vacate his/her spot while a cretin is honking behind me, makes my blood boil. And knowing that the minute I lose patience and leave the area, the parked nuisance will finally depart and the moron behind me will get the spot that was rightly mine.

But generally speaking, I think that women are more sensible drivers than men. They drive slower (not all) and don’t take as many chances as men on the freeway.
Outside a parking lot, I am susceptible to their charm and always enjoy any tête-à-tête with them.
But only outside the hellish area called a parking lot!

“He who thinks too much about every step he takes will always stay on one leg.” Chinese Proverb

Alain