The Curate's Egg
In modern parlance the expression ‘Curate’s Egg’ means something that is equally good and bad. The origin of the phrase is slightly different – it referred to something that is obviously and entirely bad, but is described out of politeness as nonetheless having good features that redeem it.
The creation of the phrase was in May 1895.
The satirical British magazine Judy published a cartoon, by artist Wilkerson, showing a timid curate and a fierce-looking bishop at breakfast in the bishop's house. The bishop says, "Dear me, I'm afraid your egg's not good!" The curate, desperate not to offend his host and superior, replies, "Oh, yes, my Lord, really – err – some parts of it are very good."
In November of that year, the magazine Punch (which had a much wider circulation than Judy) published a similar cartoon by staff illustrator George du Maurier. Titled True Humility, it also pictures a timid-looking curate eating breakfast with his bishop, though in this case with others at the table and servants shown in the background. The bishop says: "I'm afraid you've got a bad egg, Mr Jones." The curate replies: "Oh no, my Lord, I assure you! Parts of it are excellent!"
Putin V the Egg
In my mind I have an image of Putin listening to his military high command whilst sitting at one end of his hundred foot table he bought from Ebay, sold as the ‘villain’s table from ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ with Kurt Jürgen’s bottom imprint on his chair cushion.
The massed generals, sweating last night’s vodka through their uniforms and caps from fear of being replaced for incompetency (i.e. shot as traitors) whilst telling him what a good egg (war) they are cooking on his behalf.
The Truth –
The Illusion of a Good Egg - On one single measure alone can the Russians boast they are winning the war – they are very slowly swallowing up the Eastern Ukraine – the Donbas region as they say on the news.
The reality of the Bad Egg -
What they are probably not saying to Putin is:-
1. 95% of all buildings in the region now have war damage from indiscriminate Russian shells and missiles.
2. Since 2014 when Russia started illegally supplying arms to the separatists in the region 3 million of its 6.5 million (in 2014) have now left. They have been joined by a million or more since the beginning of the invasion. As the attacks have intensified in the last month hundreds of thousands of the remaining civilian population of the Donbas have fled, both separatists and those who wish to retain their Ukrainian identity – obviously nobody wants to die. Even if the war ends now the majority of those people will never return even if they have anything left to return to.
3. The Donbas region produced nearly 20% of total Ukrainian GDP. It will not return to that level in a generation, maybe many generation, given the complete destruction of so many plants, factories and mines.
4. Russia opened the war on five fronts – it has been thrashed in four of them causing them to withdraw and concentrate all their limited resources in the Eastern Ukraine in order to eke out some form of victory that they can try to pacify their own population with to justify the darkness descending over Russia.
5. Russia has lost 30,500 soldiers – mostly elite and front line units. This is far more than any other conflict they have been involved in since the 2nd World War. That is 3.3% of the total army and 15.25% of the 200,000 soldiers that started the invasion.
6. Russia has over 45,000 soldiers wounded so badly they will be unable to return to duty – a massive burden / drain on their state going forward.
7. NATO estimates that Russia has already lost over US$7 billion of military equipment with that number rising sharply every day. That is 17% of the annual defense budget and the war has only been on 100 days.
8. 35% of all Russia’s modern tanks, 1400 vehicles, have been destroyed already so Putin is resorting to getting 50 year old T-60 tanks out of mothballs and throwing them into the conflict. Imagine being a Russian conscript in a 60 year old tin box in the midst of all the modern anti-tank equipment being used and supplied.
9. Putin actions will lead to a 30% reduction in Russia’s GDP for 2022 – an unprecedented fall more in tune with a banana republic than one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
10. Today the EU has agreed to cut 80% of all imported oil and gas from Russia. The difference will be made up partially by exports from the US and the UAE.
11. Russian-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church has cut ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, stating on Sunday that the Kremlin has broken God's "do not kill" commandment.
I could continue but I am sure you already get the picture – whilst Putin is eating that ‘conflict’ egg he may be trying to keep a smile on his face as if every mouthful is enjoyable when in truth it is disgusting and full of maggots. So just once last comment on Putin’s actions: -
On the world stage he has set back Russia’s relationship with the rest of the world by 77 odd years. Long after he is dead and buried in some ego boosting, distasteful mausoleum the people of the free world will not trust Russians for a many generations.
What a legacy to leave!
Much like the sailor who walked off a ship in London in 1665 saying “there is nothing wrong with my black rat – he just has a case of the sniffles”.
So our petition is nearing 20,000 – many people told me I would not get to 100 people signing so this is amazing. Our success is all down to you incredible individuals who have spread the word on so many social media platforms.
When I reach 20,000 I will be starting on some new ideas to put pressure on the politicians to seize and sell oligarch assets at the same time. That money is urgently needed for the millions of innocent Ukrainians who have lost everything.
SEIZE – SELL - SAVE
Love to all you Supermen & Superwomen.
Neil xx