7 – 11 January 2026
by Boris Akunin
Source: Facebook
7 January 2026
BE PREPARED
I too watched the notorious interview with Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s closest aides, because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing about it.
Keep in mind that Miller is no clown like Medvedev with his Twitter antics. He’s practically one of the driving forces behind the American administration. What the administration is thinking, Miller says out loud.
The White House Deputy Chief of Staff calmly stated that Greenland belongs to the US, and that no one would be able to stop them from annexing it. He went on to say: ‘We live in a world, in the real world … that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.‘
I thought I’d heard that somewhere before. And then I remembered. A certain Aloisevich [son of Alois (Hitler) -ed.] proclaimed the same bright idea more concisely: ‘Die Größe eines Volkes liegt nicht in seiner Intelligenz, sondern in der Stärke‘ – ‘The greatness of a nation lies not in its intelligence, but in its strength.’
‘Soft power’ has actually reigned in the post-Hitler world; it brought America its victory in the Cold War. So now we’re returning to physical strength, claws and fangs and all.
In my opinion, the most important aspect of this evolving worldwide situation is the question: Does Europe have the resolve and the courage to separate itself from its former ally and partner, and become an independent force?
Frankly speaking, the chances are slim. Europe is experiencing a crisis of political will, and is overwhelmed by numerous internal problems. But I don’t see any other reasonably sane place on the planet.
Source: Facebook
9 January 2026
ELDERLY BRIGANDS
The average life expectancy has doubled over the past century, lengthening the period of active life; what we refer to as ‘old age’ is now twenty years later than it used to be. This has given rise to a new phenomenon: geronto-aggression.
Aggressors of the past were usually young, or at least still in their testosterone-fueled years. Old men like Ramses II and Franz Joseph only undertook new military endeavors if they had extensive experience at war behind them.
But now we’re in an era in which sudden belligerence seizes leaders who have spent their entire lives obsessed with money — grown gray in the head they’ve found a demon in their hearts.
Both Putin and Trump have started wars in their later years, when they really should be at their summer cottages growing strawberries. But Trump, with his Venezuela and Greenland antics, seems to be setting a new record. No one in history has ever attempted to shake things up on such a global scale at the age of 80. The 77-year-old Deng Xiaoping and 77-year-old Khomeini at least stuck to their own countries.
On the other hand, Pu Tin and Xi Jinping (who’s also not getting any younger — Taiwan, brace yourselves) are preparing to live to 150. The old men going to war? It’s actually a midlife crisis.
Source: Facebook
11 January 2026
It’s official. I have a hero, a role model. Her name is Joasia.
She is a red Polish cow who did not consent to becoming a steak. When they were about to take her to the slaughterhouse, she took down a farmer and injured him, broke through a fence, ran to a lake, and swam to a small island.
They tried to get her off the island, but to no avail. It’s not easy to get a cow into a boat if she really objects.
The ‘krowa-uciekinierka’ (runaway cow) has become a sensation. In the end, they left her in peace, grazing among the lonely waters.
The proud Polish cow was given the name Joasia, in honor of Joan of Arc. Joasia of Arc, if you will.
I want to be like Joasia.
Source: Facebook
Translated by Nina dePalma
