From the start we’ve felt a deep affinity with the dark humor of the Ukrainian soul, and, well, we’re not alone.

From the start of the invasion, our young Ukrainian immigrant friend has been telling us that the typical Russian attitude is one of disdain, even contempt.

He’s not guessing. He speaks Russian. He’s been watching Russian news. He’s been following Russian social media.

It ain’t just Putin.

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Among those covering Russian atrocities — such an insufficient word — in Ukraine is Illia Ponomarenko, defense reporter for the Kyiv Independent, who on Saturday summed up the carnage:

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We’ve seen tractor memes a-plenty, but none as elaborate as this, via TikTokker Ukrainian Girl. We don’t know whether that’s an original composition or an existing children’s song — our secret hope is that it’s full of profanity — but we’re just fucking delighted by it.

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Now that it’s back on Netflix — the first season, anyway — and you don’t have to struggle to get English subtitles out of YouTube, let’s talk about Zelensky’s political sitcom Servant of the People.

It’s very, very good. And really fucking funny.

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Let’s see… the Cardinals, the Yankees, and the Cardinals again. World Series, 1942-44. The best players weren’t on the field — busy elsewhere those years — but one reason Why We Fight is to have the freedom to enjoy life’s frivolous pleasures.

We’ve heard various versions of “how can you do that at a time like this” over the years, as if frivolousness isn’t a cherished part of human nature, the simple joy of simply existing. The weight of the world is for the gods to carry, not us.

Which is a helluva way to justify the Stinque Braquet, but bullshit is our business, abetted as always by the organizational wizardry of Braquet Dowager Mellbell.

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In the midst of all this, Ukraine held a competition to design a new postage stamp. Boris Groh from Lviv was the winner.

Ukraine reveals ‘Russian warship, go fuck yourself!’ postage stamp [Guardian]