Rasputin

I was working my way through another günther grass book (one of my favourite German writers) called The Tin Drum. The main character was talking about Rasputin and I never realized what a man this was. I ventured down the path to discover more about this man. I discovered from his illiterate beginnings as a poor man to being the last great tsar and having many people hungry for his blood. Along the way this man convinced multiples of women to sleep with him using the christian argument that the first step on the road to repentance is to first commit the sin. The few pictures I saw of this man are probably the most revealing; with a long straight beard, sparse head hair parted in the middle and deep sunken mysterious eyes that reputedly suggested hypnotism. If my words don't paint a good enough picture.....maybe a picture will! What I started wondering tough is if wonderful historical figures like this man are literally a thing of the past or if beings like himself still exist. If a man was to have the 'life-force' and charisma these days that Rasputin held; would he be recognized and move up in the proverbial ladder? Or are we all a little wiser now and not as "gullible" as we once were? Either way I wish the blessing of Rasputin on you. -Nat