JOY OUT OF CHAOS. Circus kids of Ukraine, having fled  Putin’s slaughter, finding  comfort and cheer elsewhere  This reported to me by our London tipster, journalist and author  Douglas McPherson (Circus Mania).   “Hundreds of Ukrainian circus students have been taken in by circus schools across Europe.” Stranded circus animals, too, getting loads of food donations from Monte Carlo festival, flowing into the wastelands of Putin’s terrifying revenge.  How to answer  back, wonders a  world on edge, held hostage by a monster holding in his hand the nuclear option?   We are facing the ultimate nightmare.

     BIG TOPS WITH BIG HEARTS.  World Circus Federation director Jasmine Straga caling it  “It’s the largest collaboration of circuses in history.” And a moving one, at that.  Notes Sir Douglas, “I guess it’s the art form with no borders.” Yes, indeed, as I can attest —  that most beautiful of all entertainments, where you can sit next to  people of many tongues and share, without words, identical sighs, gasps, laughs, moans, thrills —  every time I go.  Under big and little tops, audience are truly one family for a moment in time.

     THEY STILL LOVE a parade: Let the summer not be another bummer down in Ringlingville, USA – not if Circus World has anything to do about it.  Ringmaster in chief  Scott O’Connell promising not just a new tent show, pirate themed (if that matters).  Better yet, the grand free Baraboo Circus Parade will be back in motion.   “We’re hosting our sails and getting ready for the grand adventure,” pipes Scott on the dot, spot on. . Okay, yes, so you’ve checked the “theme” box.  How about the acts, Scott?

    WATER STREET WONDERS,  2022: Toping the bill is our own born-in, made-in, and discovered-in America — Wesley Williams, a lean kid who knocks ‘em dead with his really really tall unicycle (a guineas record), coaxing the thing up and down stairs, and, who knows, maybe past security guards on ground level at mobbed airports.   Wesley, a big wow on both UK and USA Got Talent TV shows,  now comes with his own doggy act, Puppy Pals.  Should make him doubly appealing to budget-strapped circus owners daring, still, to present anything that doesn’t move on two feet.  Other acts include the German Wheel, a bunge bounce and Mr. Bill, a clown who, from a video I examined, may land a few half-laughs  ...  But hold your half giggles or doubts!  Shelve your snickers!  Elephants will be there, too.  Princess Stephanie would be all smiles...

     DISNEY BE DAMNED  Walt must be roasting in his grave ever his family brand being draged through the gender wars of American the Aberational.  Current Disney CEO, Bob Chapek,  bending to  LBGTQ+2.5x-pending-further-notice, about to re-sexualize signage, characters and accommodations in order not to offend 0.6 percent of the population. Yes,  0.6 percent.  Media whores blowing the realities ludicrously out of proportion. Since when did 0.6 percent of America get to redefine the other 99.4 percent?  Whatever happened to, became of,  Normal?  The late Brit sex snoop and  scholar  Havlock Ellis, would have gone giddy over the new Gender Is What You Make mania.  

     SNOW WHITE AND CINDY, the new model couple?   Disney may have to  remake its cherished catalog of screen gems – Toby Tyler no longer an ordinary kid  falling for  the heretofore  acceptable  “opposite  sex.” Now opposite to what, pending, x+, or othrwise? We are going mad over here, and a restless majority is starting to wake up to liberal lunacy bent on demolishing norms anchored in biology   If I were a parent, I would not place my child in a school hell bent on stealing away parental control and imposing its own agenda on the most fragile segment of the population — little people just learning how to read and speak and make friends.   

    BLOCKBUSTER BIBLE readings to the rescue: Believe it or not, a young well-meaning Catholic priest, father Mike Schmittz of Minnesota, joining  bible author Jeff Cavins, began, first of the year,  reading 22 minutes a day from the sacred scriptures, and is now ranked number 1 among some 2 million podcasts. Given the woke-choke attack on almost anything vaguely related to western civilization, a growing number of innocent citizens desperate for a semblance of timeless continuity,  may be flocking to hear the good father’s readings.  

     END RINGERS IN VAIN: So-Cal based Circus Vargas looks stocked with a variety of grabbingly good action. And how I hope they’ll grab me up my way .... Royal Hanneford also looks boffo.... In eerie limbo: Big Apple ... Silence unbecoming: Ringling, about its promise last year to return next year ... Publishing Snobery of the highest order:  My book, Roller Skating for Gold, was penned when it looked like the sport I once called my own was close to an exhibition spot at the German summer Olympics of 1972. The Germans finked out at the last moment.  My book was rejected by dozens of houses, and then taken up by Scarecrow, an “academic” press, one of whose editor-in-chiefs once described the books they printed as “anything not commercial.”  Still in print following a decent roll out, last year they sold a single copy for. $69.00 – a bargain compared to used copies going for more. Which earned me $6.90.   Moral of story, stay true to thine own stupidity?  Actually, there is none, but I have to wrap this somewhere.  Sixty nine dollars, boy what a steal somebody got.