The Letter ‘A’

apophenia — the enthusiastic discovery of connections where none exist

Used illustration:

The letter ’A’ (Bold, Three-Dimensional Ornamental Slab-Serif, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 75.

The Letter ‘B’

bungler — a wretch with not a shred of talent, unable to perform even Cage’s 4′33″

Used illustration:

The letter ’B’ (Italian Slab Serif – Early Form, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 86.

The Letter ‘B’

bilocation — one foot in the mud, the other in a puddle; trilocation, simultaneously under a downpour

Used illustration:

The letter ’B’ (Ornamental Antique Dimensional, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 73.

The Letter ‘E’

entrepreneur — a specialist in any field where grants are currently available

Used illustration:

The letter ’E’ (Ornamental Antique Dimensional, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 73.

The Letter ‘F’

facts — the building blocks of opinions (alas, pseudo-facts get the job done too)

Used illustration:

The letter ’F’ (Bold, Three-Dimensional Ornamental Slab-Serif, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 75.

The Letter ‘H’

humanity — the crown of thorns of all creation, weighing on the head of the world; set by a hand we secretly hope knows what it is doing

Used illustration:

The letter ’H’ (Ornamental Antique Dimensional, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 73.

The Letter ‘P’

pain — irrefutable proof of life

Used illustration:

Central European graphic artist of the 16th century: Initial P with Pipers, 1500–1600, engraving, Slovak National Gallery (SNG)

The Letter ‘D’

devil — a mask behind which a human hides

Used illustration:

The letter 'D' (Bold, Three-Dimensional Ornamental Slab-Serif, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 75.

The Letter 'R'

recycling — repackaging old ideas

Used illustration:

Craftsman, probably a Prague initial cutter: Initial R, circa 1700, woodcut, Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery (GNZ), Slovakia

The Letter 'W'

word — an unspared commodity

Used illustration:

The letter 'W' (Fry's Ornamented Stephenson Blake, Englang) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 162.

The Letter 'S'

silence — eloquent quietude

Used illustration:

The letter 'S' (Ornamental Antique Dimensional, 19th Century) In: MORAVČÍK, F. (1975): Metodika tvorby a radenia písma [Methodology of Typeface Design and Arrangement]. Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 73.

The Government of the Slovak Republic, as the main culprit for the entire situation, has decided to address the declining standard of living for the vast majority of the population in Slovakia in its own characteristic way (i.e., making it worse). Instead of responsibly managing public finances—a course of action anyone genuinely intending to solve the situation would take—it is compensating citizens for their unfavourable situation in a very bizarre manner: by boosting their self-esteem!

For radio and television debates that would require actual experts, the government sends out debaters thanks to whom every small-town simpleton (let alone those from the city) must feel like King Solomon.

In the short term, this might appear to be an excellent idea. The citizen, pleased with how much they've improved (without realising the bar has been set damned low), will at least briefly forget the miserable state of their wallet.

In the long term, however, this looks like another disaster. Municipal and regional elections await Slovakia in 2026. It is not out of the question that a few of these 'Solomons' will feel an incredible urge to run for office. And the country will once again go out of the frying pan and into the fire!

Used illustration:

Austrian author from the 18th century: King Solomon, 1760, drawing, Peter Michal Bohúň Gallery in Liptov (GPB), Slovakia

Experience across a wide spectrum of human endeavours confirms that success in one domain may, but need not be, a guarantee of success in others. The reverse is, of course, also true: failure in one does not necessarily spell failure in another.

One of the many Slovak government politicians, who strives with little success to curry favour with the world’s autocrats (just like his party boss), will ultimately make it into the annals—or perhaps more appropriately, the "anals"—in a way he never dreamed of. He will enrich, if quite unintentionally, the national folklore! In short, success often awaits exactly where we would least expect it.

With a little luck, we may yet become witnesses to someone, late at night during a wedding reception in the regions of Záhorie, Horehronie, or Spiš, calling out to the bandleader: "Fiddler, play my song: Ľuboš Screwed the Ram!"

This lively ditty about 'screwing' the ram (of course, "from dusk till dawn"), accompanied by the folk band's musical mastery, will undoubtedly delight the heart of every Slovak, even despite the final verse where the hero "gets upset because his willy stinks."

Granted, this may not be the success the politician had strived for, but success it undoubtedly is. Let us not be envious, and let us grant him his due!

Used illustration:

Vojtech Klimkovič: Folk Dance, 1860–1880, drawing, Slovak National Gallery (SNG)

There is no doubt – the social paradise prepared for the citizens of the Slovak Republic by Robert Fico's fourth government, and presumably hoped for by the voters of the current coalition, is within reach.

However, even the most devoted fans of the SMER-SD party (Direction – Social Democracy, a left-wing populist party) may feel a certain unease when faced with the declining standard of living (and it is not out of the question that a few explicitly expressive terms will appear in analyses of the current state of affairs).

The near-miraculous embrace of conservative and Christian values by many members of the Slovak government (including former communists) and their increased interest in the legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius is finally beginning to make sense.

It was not a Machiavellian act, as we mistakenly believed, but a sincere effort to find a way to convey the ideal of evangelical poverty, which Slovakia is now only a small step away from, in an understandable and acceptable form to its citizens.

But it may not end with evangelical poverty. Rising living costs coupled with an absence of genuine solutions could lead to ordinary Slovaks beginning to resemble the couple in Eden – they will be barefoot and naked. Whether the conservative and left-leaning voter will appreciate this form of 'paradise' is not yet clear. As for the rest, to hell with them!

Used illustration:

Quirin Boel — David Teniers the Younger: Adam and Eve in Paradise, 1673, etching, Slovak National Gallery (SNG)

— David Hume

Plytvať symbolickými gestami (memorandami, vyhláseniami, rozličnými výzvami a podobne) je nepochybne menej škodlivé, ako plytvať pitnou vodou, potravinami alebo elektrinou. V poriadku je to však len do chvíle, kým gestá samotné nie sú vo vzájomnom rozpore.

Predseda ZMOS Jozef Božik pri príležitosti 80. výročia Slovenského národného povstania vyzval obyvateľov miest a obcí Slovenska k tomu, aby „si našli čas a zamysleli sa nad významom SNP a aby sa aktívne zúčastnili na podujatiach organizovaných vo svojich obciach a mestách".

Pripojil aj akýsi morálny apel, podľa ktorého „je našou morálnou povinnosťou svojim každodenným životom, správaním sa i konaním robiť všetko preto, aby sa hrôzy II. svetovej vojny už nikdy neopakovali."

Výzvu zdieľal aj na svojom facebookovom profile Chceme zmenu v Partizánskom.

Ak budete mať chuť položiť v diskusii pod príspevkom otázku, v akom vzťahu je oná morálna povinnosť z výhlasenia ZMOS s podpisom Memoranda o spolupráci s krajne pravicovou politickou stranou (známou už v čase podpisu nenávistnou politikou a kontroverzným prístupom jednotlivých členov strany k SNP) toho istého ZMOS, odpovede sa zrejme nedočkáte.

— Astrid Lindgrenová