(Look for Homo Economicus in the previous issue!). When we are talking about a Georgian model of a political animal, we need to be extremely cautious in terms of choosing the adequately descriptive vocabulary. A chance of getting hurt in this realm of our life is equal to utmost human vulnerability. 

(Look for Homo Sociologicus in the previous issue!)  In terms of our economic life, we happen to be just as different from the rest of the world as in case of our Homo Sociologicus. Economic weirdness is overwhelming in this country. There are so many funny things happening right in front of our eyes and noses that we no longer notice them taking place.

Our indigenous brand of Homo Sociologicus, as perceived by me on a personal level, seems to be fundamentally different from that of the rest of the world. On the one hand, this fact could be utterly flattering and beneficial, as all of us want and need to be unique most of the time; on the other hand, it might be totally detrimental and disastrous, for we all suffer from our individual peculiarity every now and then.

Congeniality and confrontationality are probably equally natural features of a human character in general. And the former must be more readily acceptable in a civil society than the latter. Congeniality is a benevolent builder of relationships, a constructive adhesive, helper, soother and balancer.  Conversely, confrontationality is a killer, destroyer and terminator of friendships and love. Both features, I would say, are firmly set in our Georgian temperament.

I am a genuine curmudgeon – feeling and acting youngish though! Yes, a curmudgeon, but not in the least a miser, no! Just a grumpy old man! That’s what I am. Grumpy I am in every possible way – in family life, in the classroom, in public places, in politics and certainly in-between the lines of my journalistic vignettes.

When I say ‘reversed mien’ I mean the new overwhelming proclivity of young men in Georgia to look and move feminine, and the propensity of young women here to look and move masculine. Is this a global trend or just another indigenous kink? 

National lore and wisdom are the values that need most care and concern on part of the generation which has turned out to be fortunate, smart and skilled enough to have taken over the helm of a nation (Any nation!) at a certain point in time, and have assumed the responsibility of steering a country safely through waves of high international waters and dangers of rugged domestic terrains.

Russia wanted Putin back in a saddle, and she got it. What a score! Russians wished their longtime political crap untouched, and they have it. What the heck! Let them do as they think is right! A run-of-the-mill Russian elector around the corner desired to stay unperturbed by newly-hatched vociferous whistle-blowers, and they can enjoy the triumph.

There had never been a government which likes to be picked at and nettled by mass media. Governments have always liked to be friends with the ladies and gentlemen of the press, but if for some reason the opposite happened, the governments were bigger losers as a result than the media – this of course being true only in the event of free speech and unfettered democracy in action.