Categories
Collapse of Democracy/Civilization/etc. Europe Gravediggers of American Democracy Ukraine

Jake, How Can We Help?

Jake Broe, friend of the BLOTT and fervent supporter of Ukraine, has recently posted an hour-long video. The video is his monthly Q&A. The questions are the top ranked entries from his viewers. Very democratic. In the video, which manly focuses on America’s downward spiral on the international stage, also touches on social media, and […]

Categories
America China Collapse of Democracy/Civilization/etc. russia

Can’t Happen Here

You think the constitution is going to save us? The Bill of Rights? Freedom of speech? Let’s see how that worked out in other countries….. Soviet Union / Russia Article 50. In accordance with the interests of the people and in order to strengthen and develop the socialist system, citizens of the USSR are guaranteed […]

Categories
ENGin Heros Ukraine

In Memory of Mark Tremont

Today we wish to honor a special person, Mark Tremont. Our condolences go out to Mr. Tremont’s family, friends, KM and the entire ENGin family. From the ENGin Facebook page: From Mark Tremont’s obituary: We would like to share some still images from Ukrainian filmmaker Yana Lagoda‘s story of Mark and his wife Jean.

Categories
Adventures of the Elders Food Ukraine

Cabbage Rolls

At the WLBOTT Test Kitchen and Tractor Lube Station, we are continuing our journey into the Twelve Dishes of Ukrainian Christmas. Yesterday, we made cabbage rolls, which is our current favorite. Our starting point was based on a recipe from All Recipes. Ingredients (slightly modified from the All Recipes version) Directions [1] The temperature setting […]

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Adventures of the Elders ENGin Food Ukraine

12 Ukrainian Christmas Dishes: Pea Cutlets / Січеники з гороху

Today we made another traditional Ukrainian dish, suggested by my ENGin buddy. The dish, Pea Cutlets / Січеники з гороху, is a simple recipe using dried peas. We found a recipe on the delightful Ukrainian food site Shuba. At the WLBOTT Test Kitchen, the Ladle & Lube, we made two executive decisions: Thoughts / Reflections […]

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Adventures of the Elders ENGin Food Ukraine

12 Ukrainian Christmas Dishes: Borscht

My Ukrainian ENGin buddy shared the twelve traditional dishes served on Christmas Eve. We are going to see how many we can make at the WLBOTT Test Kitchen and Tractor Lube Station. The menu: I’ll have to check with my buddy, but I believe that “Lenten” in this context means “vegetarian.” Lenten borscht — Пісний […]

Categories
Hopeful Songs on Dismal Days Music Poland

Symphony of Sorrowful Songs: Background

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki Dawn Upshaw Helena Wanda Błażusiakówna A biography of Helana can be found here: https://www.gosc.pl/doc/6457342.Lamentacja-twardej-Heleny She was a brave young woman who fought in the underground resistance against the German occupiers. The Success of Henryk Gorecki and Dawn Upshaw’s Recording

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Food Ukraine

The Serenity of Dzembronya

I came across a lovely, peaceful video of a woman preparing a feast of Vareniki (Pierogi). The woman lives in the Carpathian mountains of eastern Ukraine, in a small village of Dzembronya, in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The video reminds me of Ashe County, North Carolina, perhaps at the turn of the last century. Life is […]

Categories
Food Germany Late Stage Capitalism Shareholder Value WLBOTT Corporate

WLBOTT and the German Heritage Society

(We laugh so we don’t cry) So, once a year the WLBOTT Elders eat bratwurst and sauerkraut, to maintain our corporate membership in the German Heritage Society. That day was yesterday. But due to leftovers in a leaky Tupperware container, this morning the entire corporate headquarters is enjoying the Fermenté d’Amour, Bavarian Bliss, Eau de […]

Categories
England Italy Scholarship/Erudition

A Well-Curated Joke

I have been carefully curating my son’s life so that, at the appropriate moment, I could present him with this joke. His curating process included an immersion in American pop culture, European Renaissance history, Roman Catholic Cannon Law, a WLBOTT-compatible sense of humor, and a love of boiled eggs. So here’s the joke: Q: What […]