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Today, Joan Rivers, a gutsy gal if there ever was such, died. She was strong, outspoken, and assertive… her humour was usually blunt, occasionally, offensively so, but in a good way… people offended by humour are usually taking themselves too seriously. Rivers wasn’t merely a strong person; she was a strong woman. She was brash, in-your-face, female but not ‘feminine’, and aggressively Jewish. She took the outsider position, standing up from that position to critique the strong and the powerful. Sure, she wasn’t always politically correct… Rivers not only used the word “tranny”, which many find offensive, but she used it (in 2014) to describe Michelle Obama, and then doubled down, defending herself with her usual gusto and attacking political correctness itself. For fifty years, she spoke truth to power, and managed to end with a punchline. Thank you, Joan. Rest in Chutzpah.
Adapted from an article in the Forward by Jay Michaelson
Voices from Russia 
30 August 2013. Video. Голубые береты. Память (Blue Berets. “Memory”)
Tags: Blue Berets, memorial, Music, Music video, musicians, narod, nationalism, Orthosphere, patriotic, patriotism, political commentary, politics, Russia, Russian, Russian Airborne Troops, Russian armed forces, Russian culture, Russian history, Russian music, Soviet music, Soviet Union, tribute, United States, USA, USSR, VDV, West
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The Blue Berets (founded 1985) are an official ensemble of the VDV, it’s the only musical group in the Russian forces where all of its members are Honoured Artists of the Russian Federation. This vid dates from 1987… in late Sov times. Do note that the audience stood in respect of the fallen. Patriotism isn’t passée in Russia, no siree. All those who wish to attack the legacy of the Soviet Union (such as Victor Potapov) aren’t truly of us, heart and soul. They’ve sold their precious birthright for money, homes in the “right” suburb, and applause from the enemies of our narod, our faith, and our culture. I, for one, refuse to give up any of the positive things that the Sovs brought in. We still have Nazi collaborators (and their families) amongst us. We won’t be clean until we root out their influence… all too many of them sold out to the West; they oppose the Orthosphere. Sad, ain’t it?
By the way, although I oppose the wars used to advance American hegemonism, I’m not a pacifist. No way, no how. I’m against pointless wars in foreign parts fought to enrich the Affluent Effluent, paid for not only with our money, but with the spilt blood of our ordinary kids (the affluent, such as Willy Romney, Paul Ryan, and Rush Limbaugh refused to serve, but they DO beat the war-drums loudly and constantly, dontcha know)… that’s obscene. I respect all who fell… their patriotism and devotion are clean. I hate and oppose the warmongers… they deserve no pity or quarter. I think that all decent people can see the difference…
BMD