As of late, I often comment on all sorts of things taking place around the world, no matter how far that may be from where I live, but I rarely comment on things that are happening right around me. The main reason for this is not that Croatia is quite marginal in world affairs, which it undoubtedly is, but that there is not a single newspaper in this country worth commenting on. Well, there is not yet a single newspaper in this country that appears in English, either. Besides, The Economist rarely mentions Croatia even in passing. At any rate, I can only hope that nothing much will change in this connection. This country will come into focus of the media worthy of my attention only for the worst possible reasons, such as international criminal activity or border disputes. The joy of commenting increases with distance, anyhow.

Addendum (April 3, 2017)

The joy of commenting? Well, it is gone by now. Ever since my liberation early last year, world affairs are attracting ever less of my attention. Although I still check the news from time to time, I go for the titles and bylines only. If I open an article, which I do increasingly rarely, I just skim through it for the key facts. Period. Most important, I rarely comment on anything I have come across. As of late, the only exceptions are topics such as the future of America and Europe. More often than not, this involves poking fun at the likes of Donald Trump or Jean-Claude Juncker. Croatia is farthest from my mind, though. It is hardly worth poking fun at, either. At any rate, the joy of commenting has petered out over the years. In a few more years, it will become nigh unimaginable, and I will be truly perplexed by pieces of this ilk. By and by, they will all be associated in my mind with the silliness of youth…