The Ides of March is upon us, and it is causing soap opera interruptions. Due to the horrific international events in Ukraine, March Madness college basketball games and soaps will be preempted. All the episodes will air but perhaps a day or two later. CBS carries the big dance, aka March Madness, so "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" will be on a short leave.

Bradley Bell, "B&B" executive producer, says an out-of-nowhere occurrence will change everyone's life forever. Sounds good because all those kiss fests between Ridge and Taylor are annoying. The show is only 22 minutes an episode. Eight of those are taken up by kissy faces. I feel sorry for Ridge, especially when his son and daughter are telling him to kick Brooke, his present wife, to the curb. Man up, Ridge, and tell your brats you do not need their input. Suggest they worry about their own life.

Now on to Paris and Carter. Paris' mom telling Carter to stay away from her daughter? These folks need a hobby. How about knitting? All the busybodies in those British mysteries knit or garden. Miss Marple would have none of their nonsense.

As for the world events: The footage from Kiev is heartbreaking. All these families split up running out of their country to save their lives. How can this be? Because Vladimir Putin is a thug. Adolf Hitler started his march to take over the world by marching into Czechoslovakia. No one stopped him. He kept on marching on. I am named for my Aunt Lilian, who died in one of the camps. My dad, who was in the U.S. begged her to join him. She refused. She said Hitler was going to save Germany.

I have a rooting interest in Ukraine. I was a big sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which finds mentors for preteens and teens. My little sister, Tatiyana, was from Kiev. She was able to leave even though the country was under Russian control. She told me that religion was banned. Her father could not leave the apartment as the government would swoop in and take it. She was stunned that you could eat candy in a movie theatre; if you did that in Ukraine, you were tossed out. She was told she had to be a dental hygienist because her brother was a dentist. Being a hygienist is a fine profession, unless you do not want to do it. She is now an international labor lawyer.

On March 23, "B&B" will do an episode on the loves of Brooke Logan. Bill Spencer will be back on the canvas. Yeah. Don Diamont, who plays Bill, is such fun to watch. Another happy soap return is John Patrick Stuart (Valentin) to "General Hospital." The actor was away from the set while filming an action-adventure series for Disney. That project has wrapped. He checks back into General Hospital next week.

Jack of "Y&R" may be mourning the death of his son, Keemo. Peter Bergman, who plays Jack, not so much. Over the years, Bergman has been vocal on the story that turned Jack into a Vietnam vet who fell in love with a native girl. They married and had Keemo. He thought it war ridiculous and not based on Jack's past. Bergman says the storyline for Jack and Keemo will take an exciting turn. He will not say what but promises fans will be blown away.

Wendy Williams' TV show has been canceled. The actress, who is dealing with Graves' Disease and could not keep up the work pace. Sherry Shephard from "The View" is stepping in. For a soap twist, Williams' ex-husband, who executive produced her show, is angry that he is not part of the new team and is suing.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.