INTERNATIONAL STAND UP TO BULLYING DAY UPDATES

SLAVA UKRAINI!

-On this date in 2022, Russian military forces invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine on the orders of Vladimir Putin. Putin and many in the world expected an intense battle that would result in a fast conquest for Russia – only to have the vaunted Russian military exposed as being rife with corruption, inferior hardware, stupid ‘leadership,’ and a death toll of Russian soldiers now estimated at close to 200,000 dead.

-At the same time, Ukraine has emerged as a tenacious, smart, and devastatingly effective force of its own, pushing out Russian forces out of territory they occupied in 2014, and vaulting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy into one of the world’s most respected and badass leaders – aided by a NATO that, under the leadership of President Biden, is far more unified (and able to supply Ukraine with the arms it needs to defend and repel Russia).

-Even today’s anniversary, which was expected to see a fuselage of missiles aimed at Ukrainian cities as Russia’s latest attempt at an offensive has stalled amid even more Russian army fatalities (and pleas from Russian soldiers on the ground for bullets that aren’t already disintegrated when they open their containers), has thus far not occurred.

-It is believed Putin hopes that Russia can continue to withstand its losses long enough for Western countries to lose interest in helping Ukraine (and working to finalize new military aid from China) – and for Russian allies like Fox News host Tucker Carlson and UltraMAGA/GOP Party Leader Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Z-Q-R, GA) to erode support for Ukraine. Carlson and Greene did their part yesterday, labelling Zelensky a “pimp” in a chyron while describing the invasion as “this war against Russia in Ukraine.”

-Meanwhile, allies of Ex-President Trump are also on the job trying to throw water on both Ukraine’s fight and, more to the point, Biden’s trip to Ukraine earlier this week. Trump echoed via social media post a thoroughly false charge from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Cancun) that the air raid siren that blared while Biden and Zelenskyy walked through Kyiv was “theatre” and “fake” (it was not – Americans do not control Ukrainian air space). Meanwhile, Trump’s son Don Jr. took time from his podcast episode featuring an interview with acquitted teen killer Kyle Rittenhouse to claim that Trump’s visit to East Palestine, OH (complete with Trump handing out cases of Trump-branded water (“better than the other water!”) and buying some of the residents lunch at McDonald’s) was more courageous than Biden’s visit.

-It continues to be believed that Ukraine will attempt to retake the Ukrainian territory of Crimea – an invasion that, if successful, would finalize Russia’s invasion as a military folly of the highest order, though whether and how that may endanger Putin’s grip on power remain to be seen, as Putin enemies continue to be victimized by a mysterious ‘urge’ to find windows in high buildings, lose their equilibrium, and fall out of them to their deaths.

-So today, Ukrainians have taken to social media to show photos of life on February 23, 2022 – the day before the invasion – as a memory and memorial of what they have lost in their fight (estimates are that 100,000 Ukrainians, including soldiers and citizens that have died at the hands of Russian attacks) and as a reminder to continue their fight. Anyone who follows social media also is aware of Ukrainian allies in and out of country and within the Ukrainian military, often calling themselves members of the “North American Fella Organization” (“NAFO”) and featuring Photoshopped images of Shiba Inu dogs in battle fatigues and sunglasses – all fighting the battle against the “vatniks,” a reference to Russian conscripts and freed criminals being forced to fight on the front lines with poor equipment and training a la World War I soldiers.

-In the meantime, the iconic moment of the conflict continues to be the Ukrainian soldiers on the now-reoccupied-by-Ukraine Snake Island, who responded to a demand by a Russian Navy request with “RUSSIAN WARSHIP – GO F*CK YOURSELF!” thereby setting the tone for the battles that have followed.

-And once more, SLAVA UKRAINI!!!!!!

-On this date in 1803, the Marbury v. Madison decision established the Supreme Court as the third branch of American constitutional power as having the ability to stop a law from being enforced based on the Constitution. On this date in 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first President in American history to be impeached (he remains the closest to being removed – being acquitted by one vote in the Senate). On this date in 1942, Voice of America went on the air. And on this date in 1991, Operation Desert Storm was launched by a multinational force aimed at expelling Iraqi forces out of the country of Kuwait.

-Happy Birthday to Wilhelm Grimm, Winslow Homer, Honus Wagner, Chester Nimitz, Abe Vigoda, Steven Hill, Dominic Chianese, Michel Legrand, James Farentino, Phil Knight, Pete Duel, Paul “Manfred Mann” Jones, Barry Bostwick, Nicky Hopkins, Edward James Olmos, George Thorogood, Debra Jo Rupp, Fred Dean, Steve Jobs, Eddie Murray, Paula Zahn, Sammy Kershaw, Michelle Shocked, Billy Zane, Mitch Hedberg, Wilson Alvarez, Manon Rheume, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Shinsuke Nakamura, and Daniel Kaluuya.

-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Dmitri Shostakovich, Medicare designer Tommy Douglas, Memphis Slim, Malcolm Forbes, Tony Conigliaro, George Gobel, Dinah Shore, Henny Youngman, Dennis Weaver, Jan Berenstain, and Sally Kellerman.

-The #1 Movie on this date … in 2023, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA … in 2013, IDENTITY THEFT 3 … in 2003, DAREDEVIL … in 1993, GROUNDHOG DAY … in 1983, TOOTSIE … and in 1973, THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE.