Communist ghost?

Lenin's ghost haunts his museum

The director of Russia's Lenin Museum says the ghost of the former soviet dictator is haunting the building.

Maja Obraszowa, head of the museum located in Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's former house in Samara, says staff often hear footsteps and see furniture moving, as well as other inexplicable phenomena.

Obraszowa said: "We walked into the master bedroom one morning and saw the bed had been slept in, even though the door was locked all night.

"And we can often smell apple cake, which was his favourite food, even though there is no bakery near here."

The ghost story emerged after a group of school children visiting the museum swore to have smelt fresh coffee while looking at the former revolutionary's ancient coffee machine.

Lenin studied law in Samara from 1887 to 1891. His body is on display in the red square though many Russians feel it should be removed and given a Christian burial.

1. The ultimate irony! The dude who spearheaded the Communist Revolution, given a "Christian" burial (whatever that is -- does the New Testament specify anywhere how dead bodies are supposed to be buried?). He and his pals did everything they possibly could to eliminate religion from Russian society altogether. A Christian burial... so, Mr. Ghost, how do you like them apple-cakes?

2. I think it's really weird to display someone's preserved shell and have people file past it and look at it. Whatever brought that tradition about, I think it's actually kind-of sick and repulsive. The whole notion of preserving someone's shell to make it look as close to "alive" as possible, then purchasing an inordinately expensive wooden case lined with satin and velvet and putting the shell in it and burying it in a specially-bought parcel of ground and erecting an expensive granite marker over the spot -- I just think that's bizarre. Honestly. And for that matter, a highly lucrative racket.

When I go home to be with my Lord, toss my shell in the dump. Okay, I know that isn't legal, so do the next most logical thing and cremate it. If it's really important for you to commemorate my life, take the leftover ashes to Tahiti, scatter them on a remote beach somewhere, then enjoy yourself on my behalf.