Jan 20, 2026 2 min read

A friend visiting from Europe told me this story.

The village tavern sat at a crossroads where it got many travelers. One night three strangers were put together at a small corner table. There was a German, an Englishman, and a Russian. While they waited for their dinner to come the German treated the table to a bottle of wine. As they drank the Englishman pulled out an unusual blue bottle.

“Is there something inside?” the German asked.

All three heads leaned forward.

At the same moment they each put a hand on this unusual blue bottle and BOOM!The cork popped out.There was a thunderous whoosh and suddenly a blue genie rose out and towered above the three.

“You have freed me. Since you each had a hand on the bottle you may each have one wish.”

“I know,” the Englishman said, “I am a composer. I wish to write the most glorious symphony, a work so beautiful it will bring the world together as everyone longs for peace.”

The German declared, “I am an inventor, an engineer. I wish to create an engine that will cheaply and easily provide power. This way we can have ships or railroads, all manner of transport that will help bring the world together so we can live in peace.”

All eyes turned to the Russian. The Russian filled his wine glass, downed it and said, “I wish my neighbor’s mule would die.”

In Alaska not too many months ago, American Marines got on their knees to roll out the red carpet for the Russian president. On their knees. For the Russian dictator. A man who throws dissenters out of skyscraper windows.

Revenge is a dish best served cold and there’s no one colder, more filled with revenge and spite than the Russian president.

The Russian president lives by this rule: “What’s mine is mine. What’s yours is mine.”

Hmmm. Seems to me there is someone else in the news with the same thinking. I believe he lives in the Spite House.

Kitty Lagorio

Venetia