This is supposedly a “hieromonk” in Moscow Oblast wearing a chi-chi Rado Sintra Skeleton watch. I think NOT. This smells like an internet goof to me. This guy doesn’t look like an Orthodox hieromonk at all. There be some wild shit floating about the internet… this appears to be one such. Oh, well… the pranksters are alive n’ well in the Motherland. However, it must mean that they can’t find legit clergy with pricey bling… look at the good side. Pass the jug…
BMD
Perhaps, April Fool’s Day is one of the few holidays, although it’s never received official recognition, which is widely-celebrated all over the world. Over many years, each country developed its own unique April Fool’s practical jokes and traditions. You can read more about them in the Infographic.
Historians argue over the exact origin of the holiday. One version attributes the origin of this festival to Ancient Rome, where, in mid-February (not at the beginning of April), they held a Fool’s Carnival. Lucius Apuleius thought that ancient Romans associated “April Fool’s” hoaxing with a holiday called the Hilaria, in honour of Cybele the Great Mother goddess {only part of the holiday was a farce, there were serious aspects, too: editor}. Others argue that this holiday originated in ancient India, where they celebrated a Foolish Holiday on 31 March. On the other hand, in the ancient world, some speculate that only the Ancient Irish had a Fool’s Festival on 1 April, in honour of the New Year. Icelandic sagas relate that the custom of hoaxing on 1 April started in memory of the ásynja Skaði , daughter of the jötunn Þjazi .
Another version claims that the Fool’s Festival on 1 April in Ancient India and Rome originated as part of the celebration of the vernal equinox. People celebrated with jokes, pranks, and clowning around on New Year’s Day (it occurred in the spring in those days). People tried to appease the whims of spring weather with jokes and spoofing. Yet another variation insists that April Fool’s Day is associated with the transition to the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII Boncompagni in 1582. In the Middle Ages, people celebrated the New Year in late March… the New Year’s Festival began on 25 March and ended on 1 April. In the middle of the 16th century, King Charles IX reformed the calendar in France, moving the New Year to 1 January, but many continued to celebrate on 1 April. The people who kept the old holiday and gave each other gifts became known as “April Fools”. Yet, everyone wanted in on the fun. It became “April Fool’s Day”, and went on from there.
1 April 2013
RIA-Novosti
http://ria.ru/infografika/20130401/930032689.html
http://en.ria.ru/infographics/20130401/180379926/How-the-World-Celebrates-April-Fools-Day.html
Take this one as you will… but do have a smile during this hectic holiday season. Remember… your cat owns you… it’s not the other way ’round… and don’t you forget it! Have a cat’s attitude… they always mistrust overly-earnest and much-too-keen enthusiasts… they’re always much more trouble than they’re worth. What the cat wants to know is, “Where’s my Supper Supreme?” That’s called “keeping it focused”. They’re NOT impressed with long lectures on this or on that. Pass the jug and pour some for your “Little Stalin” too… МИЯУ!
BMD
Voices from Russia 
10 January 2018. No Comment Necessary Department… Sanity Reigns in Woodstock NY
Tags: humour, New York State, political commentary, politics, satire, spoof, United States, Upstate New York, USA, Woodstock
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Remember Rocky and Bullwinkle? Trust me, all the phoney media frenzy and frenetic accusations about “Russian hacking and interference” makes me think of Boris and Natasha, along with Mr Big and Fearless Leader. “It is lie of Moose and skvirrel”… that’s what all the media and political hype sounds like to me. Kudos to the guy who put up the sign… whatever side his political windsock points to, they’ve got one hell of a sense of humour.
Smile awhile…
Oh, if hacking and interfering in someone else’s elections are culpable, tell me… when will all the directors of the CIA stand trial for crimes against humanity? It seems to me that such interference was one of the main things that they did…
BMD