Watching the closing ceremony of the winter Olympics is like saying goodbye to an old friend after a wonderful visit. Two weeks spent in the company of remarkable athletes on the snow and on the ice, full of beauty and drama; meandering from the thrill of ski jumping to the bemusement of curling; dreams made for a few and shattered for many. The Sochi Olympics went off without a hitch but for some unseasonably warm weather in the middle, despite the gay-bashing, stray-dog-killing, lack-of-toilets reports, and the dire warnings of terrorist attacks. Vladimir Putin avoided the Schadenfreude that awaited him had the latter occurred; instead, his country won the highest number of medals -- befitting of the host nation -- and won over the skeptics, visitors, and athletes alike. Why, then, does the president continue to be demonized? Read Gilles d'Aymery's take on the siege of Putin by the Western powers with the friendly assistance, as usual, of the mainstream media.
All this in the middle of dismantling and relocating Swans headquarters and scrambling to reassemble it in time to publish this edition, during which period we asked our contributors to keep it short and simple. Graciously, they stepped up to the plate. Glenn Reed contributes a tender remembrance of his maternal grandfather, a seminal figure in his life and a true Republican in the sense that no longer exists today. Jonah Raskin continues his travels -- this time to Manhattan, where he walks the streets in a blizzard, takes in its life and lives, and pens a Valentine's Day card to his beloved city. Paul Buhle reviews World War 3 Illustrated's new comic production, the latest in a series that has outlasted not only Underground and Alternative comics but also assorted radical art movements in New York. Peter Byrne lends us his imagination with a short story from a mundane conference in Venice; while Raju Peddada's poem marvels at the wonders of the fingertip and Guido Monte's shares his words with those of Baghavad Gita. We close with apropos letters from Walter Trkla on Sochi, with links to a few articles that expose the ongoing anti-Putin campaign and the $5 billion spent by the U.S. and NATO to destabilize Ukraine.
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Gilles d'Aymery: Putin Under Siege
America's demonization of Vladimir Putin continues, with the helpful support of the mainstream media. More...
Glenn Reed: Confessions Of The Grandson Of A Republican
My Republican grandfather engendered my values and set the stage for my progressive life. More...
Jonah Raskin: New York Day: Waiting For The Blizzard
The author traverses his former home of Manhattan in the snow, pondering whether he'd move back. More...
Jonah Raskin: New York II: A Valentine's Day Card
A Valentine Day's card to New York City. More...
Paul Buhle: World War 3 Takes On Mortality
The 45th installment of World War 3 Illustrated is a Death issue, but the important series lives on. More...
Peter Byrne: Living Room
This short story takes place at a convention in Venice where one man should have known to whom he was speaking. More...
Raju Peddada: The Tip Of Ecstasy!
An ode to the many wonders and creations of the fingertip. More...
Guido Monte: Times of dreams
Old words by Guido Monte, from old poems and Baghavad Gita. More...
Walter Trkla debunks America's negative coverage of the Sochi Olympics -- a surrogate for her dislike of Vladimir Putin. More...
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