Krtek, the little mole

So, I got to meet Krtek in Prague.

You can imagine that there are quite a few of this little guy around, considering he’s a 56-year-old cartoon character. But I got to meet one of the newer ones, in fact, the little mole who tagged along on the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s final mission last year.  Sounds like he made lots of friends both times he took a ride in a rocket. 

Krtek the Astronaut now lives in the American Center in Prague, which is where I met him, and where you can meet him next time you’re in Prague!

As soon as I mentioned Krtek to Igor, he started reminiscing about the first Krtek cartoon he remembers, Krtek and the Chewing Gum.

It’s from 1969, but Igor would have first seen it in the late 70’s. He said he loved the episode so much because he was fascinated by the chewing gum – a novelty in the Soviet Union in those days.

Stalin Museum to get a makeover?

When I visited the Stalin Museum in his hometown of Gori, Georgia (four years ago! good grief), what struck me most, and what I found extremely offensive, about the place was the complete and total absence of any mention whatsoever that he might have done something even a little bit bad in his life. 

It's good to hear the Georgians are going to be making some changes. 

Voice of America: Georgia's Stalin Museum to Focus on Dictator's Crimes

About time.