#i want andrey to win this so so bad I don't even have the words

[tennis-shenanigans]

Okay now which part of my soul do I have to sell for Andrey to do this tomorrow

[bopinion]

2024 / 43

Aperçu of the week

"The world may end up under a Sword of Damocles on a tightrope over the abyss."

(Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko, Soviet Foreign Minister for 30 years and known as "Mister Nyet")

Bad News of the Week

Inevitably, it is approaching: the most important political development of this year. Maybe of the decade. Or the century. Or history. Actually, all of humanity should have the right to vote when it comes to the US presidency. After all, the reach of what happens in Washington DC extends to the remotest corner of the planet. And there have probably never been two such different alternatives to choose from as this time. But this time I don't want to write about the people, but about the office.

In Germany, the head of government, who is called Chancellor here, is only the third most important state office in terms of protocol. Before him comes the President of the Parliament and at the very top is the Federal President. However, the latter has no executive powers, but rather symbolic ones. And is therefore most comparable to a monarch in a democracy. This is different in France, for example. But especially in the USA. It is not for nothing that people like to talk about the "commander-in-chief".

And that is exactly what a US president can do: command, give orders. He can control every ministry at will. He can grant amnesty to anyone and anything. He can appoint and remove practically all office holders at federal level. He has far-reaching veto powers over Congress. He can appoint the Supreme Court. He can order a military attack. And recently, he can even demand immunity from prosecution for his actions (in office). This kind of power is otherwise only found in dictatorships.

I have little idea about Fiji. Of Burkina Faso. Or of Papau New Guinea. I only find out who is elected president there when I google it. Because it has no global impact. It's different with the USA. It is still the leading nation in the world. Financially, militarily, economically, pop-culturally, scientifically. When the head of such a powerful country is also so powerful, I always have a bad feeling. It doesn't even take an asshole to take the post.

Good News of the Week

"The Left" (Die Linke) is on the decline. After the spectacular founding of the "Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance" BSW (Bündnis Sarah Wagenknecht) by the poster girl of the same name, which is less left-wing than populist, the last party to put social issues at the heart of its program seemed to be on its last legs. It is extremely unlikely that it will reach the 5% hurdle and thus enter parliament again in the federal elections at the end of next year.

But now there is new hope. Not just from many young, politically idealistic activists who are turning away from the Greens in disappointment. But also by well-known old ones. You need to know that there is an alternative to the 5% vote. Namely three direct mandates. If a party wins these, it can also enter our parliament the Bundestag. And there are three personalities in The Left who are likely to do so: Gregor Gysi, Bodo Ramelow and Dietmar Bartsch.

At the party conference of the Left Party, which the media had previously billed as the "last stand", they announced precisely this plan as "Mission silver curl". Between 66 and 76 years old, all three are established warhorses who are known and respected. And who have a real chance of actually winning in their respective constituencies.

That would make me very happy. I don't like a lot of The Left's program, some of it is even unconstitutional, for example the transfer of key industries into public ownership - in other words, expropriation of shareholders. But the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland / Alternative for Germany) is making the right-wing fringe ever stronger and all the other established parties - conservatives, social democrats, liberals and greens - are more or less consciously cavorting in the middle of the political range. I would like to see a solid counterweight. Because a democracy should have a balanced spectrum of political alternatives.

Personal happy moment of the week

I got through a family reunion without any accidents. Which is not always a given with this family full of stubborn people. But the weather and the food were good. And afterwards, three generations visited my sick mother in hospital. That was a nice ending.

I couldn't care less...

...that you can apparently release "stuck feelings" with hip-opening yoga exercises. I'm a big fan of yoga, even though I hardly ever practise it myself. But if a feeling is stuck, there may be a reason for it. Self-protection, for example.

It's fine with me...

...that the panda is not of Chinese origin. Researchers from Tübingen have discovered that eleven and a half million years ago, the original panda lived in the Allgäu region - that's in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps next door. Next time I'm there, I'll pay more attention to the bamboo bushes.

As I write this...

...Mpox - formerly known as "Monkey Pox" - have arrived in Germany. Fortunately, direct physical contact is required for transmission, there is no droplet transmission as with flu or Covid. That's why I view the WHO (World Health Organization) label "Public health emergency of international concern" with relative calm. Because a pandemic is unlikely. Which doesn't change the fact that the last pandemic justifiably still requires a lot of consideration and reconditioning.

Post Scriptum

Alexey Gromyko - yes, he is the grandson of the legendary "Mr. Nyet" - heads the European Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This is effectively Russia's top state think tank, which regularly publishes analyses of the political situation in Germany, among other things. And also gives the nomenklatura concrete tips on how to exert political influence.

It is therefore hardly surprising that Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is classified as "still the best of the bad guys" - partly due to his refusal to provide Ukraine with extensive weapons systems. All parties, especially the populist BSW, are seen as potential allies. Except for the Greens. Perhaps because they show the most backbone against Russia's aggressive geopolitics.

[ilyasorokinn]

DANDELIONS , andrei svechnikov (prologue)

note, this is part of the waves series which is part of the heartbreak season series. here's the masterlist if you're interested. if you’re confused as to who kat is, check out the waves series, whose story is linked in the masterlist above. another link, a huge thank you to @tysonjost-taylorsversion for helping me like a few months ago (maybe?) with planning out this story. and this story will probably be shorter than “waves” was. pair, andrei svechnikov x oc (aurora darling) summary, the epic love story of aurora darling and andrei svechnikov. warnings, alcohol consumption word count, 657 words

(gif not mine)

September 2020

Aurora Darling had absolutely no idea what she was doing. She was in a brand new city with a brand new job and had no idea what to do, "How're things in the land of Caniac?" Kat joked.

"Haha." Aurora rolled her eyes, "They're fine. The co-worker I was telling you about, the guy who wears bowties every day, he invited me to a game."

"Ooh." Kat winced, "Bowtie guy? Are you gonna say yes?"

"I don't know. I'm trying not to get involved with co-workers this time. I don't really want to have to move all over again." Aurora sighed, digging through the boxes of her life as she tried to find her computer charger.

"I get it." Kat sighed, "But it's time to move on. I know what Voldemort did a number on you, but Rory, it's time to move on."

"I know." Aurora sighed, "Good news about that hockey game is there are other co-workers going too, so I wouldn't be alone with bowtie."

"That is good news." Kat sounded hopeful.

"Look, I gotta go. I can't find my computer charger and it's driving me crazy."

"All right, I'll talk to you soon. I love you, Aurora Darling."

"I love you, too, Kat Foley," Aurora smirked.

-

A few days later, Kat found herself at PNC Arena, wearing an Aho jersey and a Canes hat. She kind of felt like she was betraying Erik.

"So," Bowtie guy, whose actual name was Jude asked, "You having fun?"

"Yeah." Aurora nodded, keeping her eyes on the ice, "Tons."

"Hey, Aurora, a few of us are going out after the game. You wanna come?" Another co-worker, Dorthy who Aurora had sort of become friends with, offered.

"Yeah, sure. Just might have to dip early cause I have some stuff to grade."

"All good." Dorthy smiled.

Even later, after a win, Aurora was seated at the bar, sipping her drink, "What's a pretty girl like you sitting here by herself?" A man with a very thick accent asked.

Aurora winced, "That was disgusting."

"I know, it was pretty bad." The guy looked uncomfortable too, "I'm sorry, that was bad. It sounded better in my head."

She laughed, "I'm Aurora."

"Andrei." He laughed, "Wow, letter twins. A and A."

"Nice to meet you, Andrei."

"Nice to meet you too, Aurora." He sat down next to her, "So, do you want to go out with me sometime?"

"You are very bold."

"That's a good thing." He shrugged.

"You're sweet, Andrei, well, you seem sweet. But my answer is no." She shook her head, going back to her drink.

"What? Why not?"

"Have you never been told no by a girl or something?" She shook her head, "Just no. I don't have to give you an answer on why I'm not gonna go out with you. You take no as an answer, and if you can't, then I'll scream. Your choice." She shrugged.

"Wow."

"Too much?" She asked.

"I mean, I got the message."

"Good." Aurora smiled, grabbing her bag and walking out of the bar.

-

"All right, today, we're gonna do reading time a little different today. We're gonna have some friends join us."

"Which friend, Miss Darling?"

"Us." Aurora looked up startled as she watched as almost half of the Carolina Hurricanes roster walked through her classroom.

She stood up in shock as she tried to digest what was happening, "Whoa, you know the Canes, Miss Darling?"

"I, uh..."

"Are they gonna read to us?" Another student asked.

"We sure are." Once she finally composed herself, she explained what was happening, she began calling each student, one-by-one, to pick who they wanted to read with them.

Once every student was called, she slumped down at her desk, "Do you need some help reading, Miss Darling?" A familiar voice asked her.

"Ugh!" She groaned.

"I've certainly never had that effect on women." Andrei joked.

-

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first chapter dropping march 30, 2022