CURRENT EVENTS

This Week’s Post Is Coming To You From Warsaw, Poland

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Second Triumvirate

By Clifford Alexander

If you don’t know anything about The First Triumvirate, than this book probably isn’t for you. However, if you do know about The First Triumvirate; I think you will enjoy this easy to read book.

With the murder of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March 44 BC, a new political constellation seized control of the city of Rome. Known as the Second Triumvirate, this alliance between Gaius Octavius (Augustus), Marc Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus formed in the year 43 BC and saw the three most powerful men in Rome overcome their own personal differences to bring about a new stability to their tumultuous city. 

Gradually emerging victorious over the assassins, the Second Triumvirate attempted to consolidate their hold on the Roman Empire by partitioning its vast expanse amongst themselves.  In what followed, political intrigue pitted each member of the Triumvirate against one another, as all attempted to seize absolute power.

This contest between the greatest Roman politicians mobilized vast armies from across the world, and featured battles that stretched from the sands of the Persian heartlands to the Spanish steppes. From the ashes of the Second Triumvirate emerged a new form of government that we now know as the Empire. (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Green Book (2018)

This movie is both very entertaining and also very educational. I took college classes until my mid-50s and I am still trying to wake up as so many classes were boring.

Education should be engaging and entertaining. If it isn’t, I’m not sure what you are being taught; but, it probably isn’t to think for yourself.

I thought this movie was excellent

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I enjoy watching this video, it is both music and a story. I hope you enjoy it too.

Beer For My Horses

By Toby Keith & Featuring Willie Nelson

ART OF THE WEEK

The Nut Gatherers (1887)

By William Adolphe Bouguereau

Location: Detroit Institute of Arts

Bouguereau shows us two innocent girls posing in a glade, unaware of the dangers of life. The fresh faces, smooth skin, and bare feet remind us of the vulnerability of youth and of that privileged world of simple pleasures and intense youthful friendship before the responsibilities of adult life begin. Bouguereau was a teacher who upheld traditional values in painting at the Académie des Beaux Arts in Paris.

What a surprise when I stopped by our local library and saw a replica of this famous painting on the building’s wall.

Since, I have a copy of this same painting in my hallway.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Józef Pitsudski

I was really impressed with this guy. Not only is he a great Polish patriot, but he looks like someone you would be better off not messing with. 

Perhaps, you hear the saying, “My way or the highway.” Well this is more of a “My way or prison” type guy.

Józef Klemens Piłsudski, (5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State (1918–22) and First Marshal of Poland (from 1920).

He was considered the de facto leader (1926–35) of the Second Polish Republic as the Minister of Military Affairs. From World War I he had great power in Polish politics and was a distinguished figure on the international scene.

He is viewed as a father of the Second Polish Republic re-established in 1918, 123 years after the 1795 Partitions of Polandby Austria, Prussia and Russia

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

I grew up in a neighborhood that was predominantly Hill Billy, Italian and Polish; so I think I should be allowed to tell a couple of ethnic jokes.

I remember when I first got married, my family was so upset with me. I recall them saying, “What is the matter. Ain’t your own kin good enough for you.”

One of my hill billy friends went to a doctor and told the doctor he just had to be Polish. The doctor warned him, that he was going to have to have half of his brain removed. My hill billy friend said, “That’s okay, I’ve got to be Polish.”

After the operation, the doctor came in and told my friend that there had been a horrible mistake. Instead of removing half of his brain, they accidentally removed his entire brain.

My friend said “Mamma Mia!”

PHYSICAL TRAITS

I would not recommend anyone start drinking, if they don’t currently drink. However, I suspect one or two drinks a day may be helpful.

So for you drinkers out there, check out this Warsaw restaurant menu.  How about that, “Brzeski” on their menu. And I love the way they spell “Alkohole”.

CHARACTER TRAITS

Monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw

This Memorial is dedicated to people who did not die fighting for freedom. These people died “fighting for an honorable death.” They knew they had absolutely no chance of surviving, if they rose up against the Nazis; since, they were surrounded by Nazis and vastly outgunned. They just didn’t want to go to their deaths without a fight. They died a noble death, they were truly extraordinary.

SOCIAL TRAITS 

Poor Choices

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

The above is a rather strange image, but it should make you think.  After seeing this, I would be reluctant to put off things I wanted to do and things I wanted to say to people.

LAST WEEK’S POLLS