ILIGAN City ― Calix, the dog and NN (short for No Name) the cat had a confrontation. The latter was poised under a chair while Calix was in front of him. "Bark, bark, bark!" came from Calix directed of course to NN with all the menace he could muster.

But NN just looked at him with half closed eyes.

I looked at them with consuming interest. "Oi, deadma lang!" said a passerby who also witnessed the episode and paused a moment with interest too. By and by, NN gave out an emphatic "meow" his eyes opening some more. This led Calix to retreat, caught by surprise by NN's act.

I couldn't help comparing them to Russia vs. Ukraine. For their war there would almost have an anniversary these days.

It was reported that when Russia was about to wage war vs. Ukraine, members of the NATO came to Ukraine. Now, NATO, to note, does not mean. "No Action Talk Only"-- and the countries friendly with it, came over to Ukraine, to see what was its defense plan, Volodymyr Zelensky readily gave them. And when they analyzed such, they were able to get the impression that the country would just be a "sitting duck" against a noisy, powerful country like Russia under Vlad Putin.

So, they made it understood to Z that they would send him some nice plane to carry him and allies out of Ukraine and maybe set up a government outside. Like a government by remote control?

Yet, Z said: "We don't want a ride. We want ammunitions."

It then turned out that Z just gave the NATO people a "fake" defense plan. Because, per his analysis, someone might leak such to Russia! His true "game plan" was close to his chest. Like a good poker player.

Z to note, is only 44. So, he is in his fightingest best, while Putin is 69. And I remember a joke about this number when somebody asked another, which number he like--69 or 6.9. And the answer was: He didn't like the latter, because it has a period!

Ohh, pardon the irreverence. And so, Z, the comedian, becomes a wartime leader. And I remember my nerdy friend, Mike saying in 2022: :"Here, we have a leader who became a comedian!"

Of course. we all know who he is referring to.

Now, it's almost February 24. And we know what that date is. It would be an "anniversary" . An anniversary wherein we too have to note the rise and fall of petroleum products brought about, mostly, they say by that war. Impacting our pockets here, there, and elsewhere.

Yet there's no end in sight. That the war there would be over soon. They say, though that it "ain't over till the fat lady sings."

As it is, I don't say any fat lady coming over to do some singing. Do you?

Email: norasorino2@gmail.com