The octopus is among the most flexible, versatile, and clever of all sea creatures. When it comes to disguise, it is also the ultimate chameleon. Thanks to special cells in its skin, the octopus has the ability to change color and even skin texture, assuming a thousand combinations. In the blink of an eye, it can fade into the sea floor, appearing to be just another bumpy rock, piece of coral, or floating
seaweed—or even mimic the movements of creatures such as crabs, fish, and sea snakes!
Born to a family of peasants in Siberia in 1869, Grigori Rasputin was always impressed by the power and rituals of Russian priests. After claiming to have experienced a great religious revelation in 1897, he portrayed himself as a wandering monk and holy man.
Though largely uneducated, Rasputin was shrewd and charismatic. In 1904, he traveled to Saint Petersburg, impressing many of the religious and social classes as a mystic and spiritual healer. He eventually met Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. The quasi-priest gradually wormed his way into the imperial family by saying that he could heal the Tsar’s only son, Alexei, who suffered severely from hemophilia. Strangely, young Alexei did seem to improve by following Rasputin’s advice. Rasputin soon became a permanent fixture in the palace. When Tsar Nicholas left Saint Petersburg in 1915 to command the Russian army in World War I, Rasputin solidified his manipulation over Alexandra, even influencing disastrous political and military decisions. Many accused the empress of having an affair with the “Mad Monk.” On December 30, 1916, a group of Russian noblemen who feared the influence of the evil charlatan over the imperial family assassinated Rasputin and threw him into the Malaya Nevka River.
Many historians attribute the fall of the Russian Empire and the rise of communism to the destructive influence of Rasputin. The Bible also tells of a powerful, rebellious, and evil being that has deceived and highjacked an entire world, bringing untold misery…
