Morning all; What a week it’s been — and it’s not over yet. Pray for the people of the Ukraine as another ruthless dictator tries for an early start towards domination.

KHARKIV, Ukraine — is one of Cincinnati’s nine sister cities around the world. It is under attack after Russia invaded, without provocation, the Ukraine this week.

Delegations from the two cities met and signed documents; and as a result Cincinnati and Kharkiv, have been sister cities since September 11, 1989. Over 2,500 Cincinnati citizens have visited Kharkiv as a result, and currently there is a Cincinnati student-art exhibit there.

Buildings in our town are showing the colors of Ukraine as a symbol of solidarity. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, 20-miles from the Russian border, is being targeted.

All of this begs the question, how and to what use are the millions of dollars we pump into the United Nations spent; has anyone heard a peep from them? Why has Putin not yet been cited with “crimes against humanity”? In fact, why do we continue to support the UN and its featherbedding ‘diplomats’?

Our current diplomatic – link in Europe is our Foreign Relations ‘expert’, Kamala Harris. She’s been recorded with the following gem; “Within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, although, open, although it is absolutely narrowing, but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open.”

I cannot but marvel at this perfectly created ‘word-salad’.

Quote of the week – My favorite this week is from Elon Musk on Twitter to Senator Elizabeth Warren who commented on Musk (and other Billionaires) not paying enough in taxes;

”Will visit IRS next time I’m in DC just to say hi, since I paid the most taxes ever in history for an individual last year. Maybe I can have a cookie or something….” ~ Elon Musk

Canada – watching as it devolved into an updated version of a banana republic. Prime Minister Trudeau hob-nobs much better with the Devos crowd than with his own people. So, rather than meeting with the very folk, citizenry who only wanted discourse, he set on a path of sending in his ‘jackboots’.

I should point out that during the Ottawa protest not a single business was looted or burned down. The homeless were fed by the truckers of the Freedom Convoy and the streets were kept spotless. The street in front of Parliament was turned into an ice rink for kids. Veterans maintained security around the statues. These were the people called demagogues and treated like scum. No request to communicate was even answered.

Dutifully the police, military style, obeyed and crushed the protest rally. In a nation where 95+% of the mainstream media is on the public dole (to the tune of over $1.2-Billion) reporting following the party line is the standard.

There were exceptions (very few). So when Trudeau’s RCMP Calvary trampled an elderly woman on a mobility scooter – who turned out to be an elder in the Mohawk nation, things didn’t look so good. And, this event was reported world-wide by a number of alternative news sources.

Birthday – with just a day (and year) apart from mine is former Beatle, the late George Harrison (February 25, 1943). Musically the best Beatle and known as ‘the quiet Beatle’ – something I share with him in my family; I’m known in our family as ‘the quiet one’. Correct – yes?

Thursday I had a day worth remembering and was showered with more love then I could have conjured up in my wildest dreams. Pictures have already been shared with family, but here are a couple for everyone. Enjoy!

Fini –
• G.K. Chesterton is one of those who can encapsulate thought brilliantly, such as: “You do not know a tyranny until it is on top of you; until it has you in a trap. The tyrant is not present until he is omnipresent.”

• Years ago, on a business trip in Egypt, I visited the pyramids in Giza. Actually climbed down the shaft to the funerary chamber. This week I came across this cut-away of what all is inside the structure and thought you’d appreciate.

• Professional MLS soccer’s season is starting today. This evening at 6:00PM our team, FC-Cincinnati will be playing Austin-FC in Austin. Last time I was in Austin I swung by their brand new (it was still under construction) stadium. Now, I am missing seeing this opener by just a few days. Grrrr!

• On my favorite walking trail it passes along the backyards of some houses. This family painted their fence and cut a couple of holes in it so that their two (pretty ‘yippy’) dogs can also see what’s going on. Reverse Zoo maybe?

• Painting by numbers can also make for a stunning picture. This was done by Kirstin to hang in the cabin. Since were here and not there we hung it here. Pretty sweet, don’t you agree?

• This past season our Bengal’s did pretty well. The “Who Dey” cheer was heard everywhere. Now, from the UK, comes this virtual Pub.

This evening Marcia and I will head for our favorite teeny-tiny hole in the wall Italian place – Biagio’s Bistro. After which we’ll walk two businesses over to the city’s best alternative movie theater. There we’re going to see Bill Murray read poetry and music by world renowned cellist Jan Vogler “rock the Acropolis in Greece” in a movie titled: NEW WORLDS: THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION.

It’s touted as; “a timeless mix of music, literature and poetry”. Murray will also be joined by piano and violin. Held at the 2,000 year old stage of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus it’ll feature music from Bach to van Morrison, Whitman to West Side Story. Marcia and I are both psyched and pumped!

OK, I know I need to complete my Taxes – just haven’t done it yet.

Best till next weekend – from Austin.

Dirk