Sunday

Horse-draw carriages exhibition, Seville, Spain. Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER, AFP Via Getty Images, posted at usatoday.com:

Has WWIII arrived? Some would argue it began at least a year ago. Kudos to Israel, the USA, France, Jordan and the UK for repelling the attack. Among the saddest pictures I see in youtube photo arrays are those of Iran pre-hostage crisis, women dressed in western clothes. I wonder what percentage of the population approves of the actions of its leaders.

And on the home front a different kind of war. Headlines from nypost.com: “Teens assault, attempt to rob Uber driver at gunpoint while filming NYC attack.” And: “Fearful women traveling in packs after NYC sucker-punch scourge injured 14 women.” Catch, release, repeat.

New book from a teen mom who became a doctor:

A pleasant day, although the threat of rain persists. My thanks to the kind folks who donated and bought stuff, especially the three ladies who overcompensated me. Here’s what sold: a Mother’s Day package of picture frame and fancy bag; five books in Russian; The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket (Author), Brett Helquist (Illustrator). Here’s the picture that was on one of the Russian books.

It’s singer Vadim Kozin, 1903-’94, who, despite entertaining Soviet troops during WWII, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for homosexuality. He was never officially exonerated and remained in exile in “the spa Magadan,” as he called it, until his death. Magadan is a port town in eastern Russia. It was a major transit centre for political prisoners sent to forced labour camps. Churchill was a fan of Kozin. Marc Almond of Soft Cell (Tainted Love), recorded many of Kozin’s songs, including the entire 2009 Orpheus in Exile album. Here he is in concert in Hamburg, singing a translation of Friendship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LjGzkH1Oj0

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