Things are Looking Up Again...Sputnik, 2.0, 3.0....

From/to Russia with Love, here they come again: The Germans, that is. This time invited. What a difference 8 decades can make...for there are few Russians alive that can readily recall "Operation Barbarossa", the invasion of Russia by Nazi Germany in June of 1941. Involving over three million troops in 3 parallel offenses, in what is known as the most powerful force in history. While the number of Germans who are now being welcome across the border, even invited to take a "vaccination vacation" abroad, won't quite resemble a blitzkrieg, there will nevertheless be a temporary strain on Russian accommodations as an increasing number of German citizens have temporarily forsaken their homeland as they have become impatient with their administration's vaccine distribution, and headed east in search of Sputnik...So, here we are with yet another chapter in vaxing and vexing...a sequel to November 28th/29th and December 8th posts...

All a Matter of Space and Time: Socially, geopolitically, and even psychologically...from being invaded by a neighbor that treated their citizens with little mercy (e.g. "Sieges of Leningrad and Stalingrad") in the 40's, to the temporary triumph of "Sputnik" in the 50's, to a James Bond film in the 60's, and now, the return of Sputnik and the Germans...it's like a...well, like a shot in the arm!

So, Nostrovia! More correctly, "Na Zdorovie"..."To your health!"..."have a shot" (or two) on the house! But don't stay too long, or your visa may expire, as might your antibodies...

No, not Nyet, at least if you're Ukrainian, after they recently banned use of Russian CV-19 vaccines in the midst of ongoing tensions with their eastern neighbor...while they will not be heading east themselves for vaccines, they will no doubt continue to keep an eye to the east, as an increasing number of (vaccinated?) Russian troops continue to assemble on their border...

And don't look (up) now...in the midst of all this, plus the ongoing controversy involving Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who remains locked up and in fragile health...President Putin is due to deliver his annual "state of the nation" address to the joint session on this very day (at about noon in Moscow, which means it is already part of history as this goes to press at about 6:45 EST)...one wonders whether he'll bare his pecs or flex other muscles, as he did in a previous presidential address, where he utilized video featuring the most recent Russian missiles...or will he instead try a head fake, in an attempt to get all to look in another direction, including the most recently befriended Germans who are 'just visiting'...? 

Keep your eyes and ears open, to the east, west...the saga of "sputnik" continues...



 

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