Watching the Obituaries

Stalin died 69 years ago today. Pictured is the cover of The New York Times a day later.

Which brings me to a joke making the rounds in Moscow:

A Moscow man buys a newspaper, glances at the front page, and throws it straight out. 

Next day: same again. 

And again. 

Eventually, the newspaper seller snaps. "Why DO you do that?" 

"Oh, I'm just checking for an obituary" 

“But obituaries aren't even on the front page!" 

“Oh, the one I'm looking for will be"