Having a wonderful time reminiscing about all my past travel (and other) adventures. Hope you’ll share them with me in my blog, “All Roads Led to Russia.”
I was watching a David Pakman broadcast on YouTube last evening, in which a guest referred to certain people in the Trump administration as “sycophants.”
Closed captioning was turned on, and I happened to glance at the screen at exactly that moment . . . just in time to catch the description of those government employees ingloriously translated for all the world to see as:
“Sicko pants”
As though being a sycophant isn’t demeaning enough!
Now, I’ve seen some funny ones over the years — we all have — but what struck me about this one was its absolute appropriateness . . . and I just had to share it with you.
From elementary school teacher in Karabash, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia (near the northern border of Kazakhstan), to Academy Award recipient at Hollywood’s biggest night of the year, is one giant step for a self-described “Mr. Nobody.” But Pavel (“Pasha”) Talankin just made that leap.
Pavel (“Pasha”) Talankin
Once a student at Karabash Primary School No. 1, where his mother worked as school librarian, Pasha later returned there as a teacher and the school’s videographer — by all accounts, a very normal, contented life.
But in 2022, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, and to support his “special military operation” — in truth, nothing more than an illegal land grab — he began a massive propaganda program throughout the country, focusing heavily on the population’s most vulnerable: the children. The official curriculum in the country’s schools was changed to require “patriotic” teaching, including references to the war as the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine.
But Pavel Talankin couldn’t accept the lies. He continued filming school programs as usual, though under new instructions to delete any material that might reveal the nature and extent of the Soviet-style curriculum. And he began secretly making duplicate, unedited videos of classes, pro-war student assemblies — even including weapons training by the infamous paramilitary Wagner Group. He found a way to send the unedited videos out of the country to an American man he had met online, filmmaker David Borenstein, who became his co-director and worked with him remotely from Europe for two years.
Those films ultimately became the documentary, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.” And on Sunday, Pavel Talankin and David Borenstein took home Oscars.
Pasha eventually had to flee Russia, leaving behind his mother, his friends, his students, and a job that he once loved. As Borenstein explained:
“When Pasha picked up the camera, it was because he felt he was trapped in this Kafkaesque system. He says it in the film: ‘Being a propagandist at this school is like walking a tightrope.’” [Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, March 16, 2026.]
He booked a supposed vacation in Turkey, and never returned home. He is currently living in an undisclosed location somewhere in Europe.
Before flying to Los Angeles, Pavel gave an interview on CBS News’ “Sunday Morning” in London, in which he said:
“When the teacher had to say Ukraine had taken the path of neo-Nazism and neo-fascism, and we must ‘liberate’ it, at that moment I understood that I had no moral right to delete this material, because it is part of the evidence of what’s happening in Russian schools today.” [Id.]
Asked if he believed Russian authorities had become suspicious of him, Pavel replied:
“Sometimes I thought so. In Russia you never know. No one will call you; no one will knock on your door. They just watch, and then suddenly break the door down, throw you on the floor, and the floor is the last thing you see in your apartment. That’s it; you don’t exist anymore.” [Id.]
Pavel Talankin in Los Angeles
The Kremlin claims they’ve been too busy to watch the film. Translation: they’ve seen it, and haven’t yet decided what to do about it.
But Pavel’s mother, who appears in the film, has seen it. She even gave an interview to the New York Times in which she expressed her pride in her son. Conscience and courage obviously run in the family.
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Like the samizdat of Soviet times, Pavel Talankin’s film is a vital means of getting out to the world the truth of life in Putin’s Russia. He expresses his fear for the future of the children he left behind:
“This is a very important document, because it shows what Russian society will be like in a few years. Putin may no longer exist, but society will be evil, because propaganda entered schools and was taught to children.” [Id.]
In response to a question, he said that he feels “probably 80 percent safe” from retribution, but that:
“It’s also, to me, a story about resistance. Everybody faces a moral choice wherever you are, and this is a story also about what you do when there is a government around you tearing down everything that you have built up.” [Id.]
And when his co-director David Borenstein accepted his Oscar, he had this to add:
“‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ is about how you lose your country. And what we saw when working with this footage, it’s that you lose it through countless small, little acts of complicity, when we act complicit, when a government murders people on the streets of our major cities, when we don’t say anything when oligarchs take over the media and control how we can produce it and consume it. We all face a moral choice. But luckily, even a nobody is more powerful than you think.” [Id.]
David Borenstein
Pavel Talankin and David Borenstein — two “Mister Somebodies,” whose courage and conviction stand as a shining example to us all.
Garry Kasparov is a world chess grandmaster, author, and Russian political dissident living in exile in Croatia, who knows the workings of the Russian hierarchy as well as anyone alive.
When asked about the prospects of peace talks with Vladimir Putin, he had this to say:
Garry Kasparov
Conversely, real estate huckster and U.S. special envoy to everywhere, Steve Witkoff, recently offered an opinion based on a few meetings with Putin, in which he proffered:
Steve Witkoff
If you were asked to decide, whose word would you be inclined to take?
Things weren’t going so well for Donald Trump. Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine — the one he said he would wrap up within days of taking office in January 2025 — were stalled; Americans were seeing through his lies about prices coming down, jobs being created and salaries going up; U.S. citizens were being killed as collateral damage in his brutal immigration roundup; his MAGA base, and even his Republican-majority Congress, were beginning to develop cracks; his administration was being run by incompetent, self-serving yes-men (and women); and worst of all, the Epstein files weren’t going away.
So he did what any normal person occupying the most powerful office in the world would immediately think to do: he invaded Iran, with no legitimate justification, no authorization from Congress, no sane strategy, and no exit plan.
In the meantime, Ukraine continued to fight for its life for the fifth consecutive year. But the next round of peace talks, which had been tentatively slated to begin last week, were put on hold — to the obvious delight of Vladimir Putin. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, scheduling the negotiations had become difficult because it was unclear when U.S. officials would be able to participate. [Alex Raufoglu, RFE/RL, March 13, 2026.]
This time it was not Putin who caused the postponement; it was Trump’s and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s decision to divert the nation’s military resources to the Middle East, where their disastrous attack on Iran — initially touted as a surgical strike that would be over in the blink of an eye — has instead broadened into a multi-nation war of retribution against U.S. allies in the region.
Who starts a new war — and on false pretenses, at that — before an ongoing war is wrapped up? A blithering idiot, that’s who. One who, despite a lifetime of failures, still believes he can cover up his disastrous mistakes by creating more chaos. Who has no sense of loyalty to his allies. Who doesn’t give a flying fig how many people are killed, crippled, bankrupted and disenfranchised by his actions. Who is motivated only by ego and greed.
Trump and Hegseth: Harbingers of Doom
And when the shit once again hits the fan, what does he do? First, he dissembles — no, he LIES — about his justifications, his “goals,” and how things are going. Then he calls upon those very allies he so recently insulted and turned his back on — our traditional NATO allies — and asks them to put themselves in harm’s way by helping him out of his latest mess, because suddenly we’re all friends again.
And what about Ukraine? Well, here’s where it gets interesting. It seems that four years of being forced to stand up against the might of Russia’s forces has also provided the smaller country with an unexpected opportunity. Ukraine has suddenly emerged as the world’s leading experts in drone technology, production and wartime application, with particular emphasis on the Iranian Shahed drones that Iran has been selling to Russia and is now using in its own retaliatory strikes against U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in appreciation for America’s assistance throughout the course of Russia’s assault, had offered to share its innovative technology with the U.S., but was met with a shocking lack of interest . . . until recently. Suddenly, Trump and his squad of stable geniuses have come to realize that we may need these newer, more effective, and less expensive weapons after all. And Zelensky — being the far bigger man — is still willing to share his bounty with us.
“Beware the Ides of March.” – Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar,” Act I, Scene 2
According to William Shakespeare, if Julius Caesar had been a superstitious man, he would have heeded the words of the soothsayer, avoided the forum on that March 15th in the year 44 B.C., and possibly lived to see another day.
Bust of Julius Caesar (100 B.C. – 44 B.C.)
But he wasn’t, and he didn’t. Instead, when the fictitious soothsayer uttered those immortal words, Caesar ignored him and proceeded on, where his supposed friends, Brutus and Cassius — with the eager participation of other members of the Roman Senate — stabbed him to death.
And as he lay dying, he famously spoke his last words to Brutus, the friend who had betrayed him:
“Et tu, Brute?” (“And you, Brutus?”) – Id., Act III, Scene 1
Assassination of Julius Caesar – March 15, 44 B.C.
The words of the soothsayer and Caesar were Shakespeare’s inventions, but the assassination is historic fact. It altered the fate of a nation, as on that day — under the rule of Caesar’s successor, Augustus — Rome began its transition from a Republic to an Empire.
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Thus was another superstition born of myth, as most superstitions are. Black cats, broken mirrors, spilled salt, opals . . . most date back to ancient beliefs, some to real-life coincidences, and others — like Shakespeare’s Ides of March — to the imaginations of writers.
But if taking precautions against any of them makes you feel better, then by all means, go for it. Julius Caesar probably wished that he had.
As of last month, there were an estimated 1,214 political prisoners being held by Cuba’s communist government, according to the nonprofit Prisoners Defenders organization. On March 12th, it was announced that 51 prisoners were to be released in the coming days, though it was unclear how many, if any, were political prisoners. Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “all have served a significant part of their sentence and have maintained good conduct in prison.” [CBS News, March 12, 2026.]
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel
While the CBS News report called this “an unexpected move amid pressure from Trump” [id.], a statement released by Cuban officials said:
“In a spirit of goodwill and of the close and fluid relations between the Cuban State and the Vatican — relations through which communication has historically been maintained regarding review processes and the release of persons deprived of liberty — the Government of Cuba has decided to release, in the coming days, 51 people serving prison sentences.” [Vatican News, March 13, 2026.]
This was followed by a statement from Director Matteo Bruni of the Holy See (Vatican) Press Office to the effect that there have been recent discussions between the Holy See and Cuban authorities “regarding the release of prisoners” in Cuba. [Id.]
Pope Leo XIV: A True Peacemaker
Whoever claims credit — and history dictates that it rightfully belongs to the Vatican — this is obviously good news.
*. *. *
But it is yet another Sunday with no further news concerning those on our list of political prisoners. So once again, we send them greetings and assurances that they are not being overlooked during this time of crisis, not only in Ukraine, but now also in Iran and the surrounding regions. They include, among many others:
Prisoners of War:
The 19,500 Kidnapped Ukrainian Children The People of Ukraine
Immigrant Detainees in Russia:
Migrants from the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Endangered Exiles:
Mikita Losik Yulia Navalnaya Countless Journalists and Other Dissidents
Andrei Chapiuk Uladzimir Labkovich Andrzej Poczobut Marfa Rabkova Valiantsin Stafanovic Yuras Zyankovich
In Georgia:
Mzia Amaglobeli
In Russia:
The “Crimea 8”: — Oleg Antipov — Artyom Azatyan — Georgy Azatyan — Aleksandr Bylin — Roman Solomko — Artur Terchanyan — Dmitry Tyazhelykh — Vladimir Zloba
James Scott Rhys Anderson (British) David Barnes (American) Gordon Black (American) Hayden Davies (British) Anastasia Dyudyaeva Antonina Favorskaya Konstantin Gabov Robert Gilman (American) Stephen James Hubbard (American) Sergey Karelin Timur Kishukov Vadim Kobzev Darya Kozyreva Artyom Kriger Michael Travis Leake (American) Aleksei Liptser Grigory Melkonyants Nika Novak Leonid Pshenychnov (in Russian-occupied Crimea) Nadezhda Rossinskaya (a.k.a. Nadin Geisler) Sofiane Sehili (French) Igor Sergunin Dmitry Shatresov Robert Shonov Grigory Skvortsov Eugene Spector (American) Joseph Tater (American, disappeared) Laurent Vinatier Robert Romanov Woodland (American)
Jessica Brody was already a published author when she decided to write a novel specifically for a young adult audience.
Jessica Brody (1979 – present)
Being far beyond the age demographic of her much, much, much younger readers, I confess that I’ve not read any of Jessica’s books. But if this good advice from that first novel for young adults is typical, I might just have to pretend I’m sweet 16 again and pick it up:
“Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can’t get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don’t care who you are. What goes around comes around. That’s how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.”
– Jessica Brody “The Karma Club”
There are far too many people on this Earth who obviously don’t believe — or don’t care — that karma, or fate, or whatever you believe in will come after them eventually. But if Jessica Brody is right, then there may be hope for the world.
I was going to call this “Ode to Jeffrey Epstein”; but an ode is a tribute, and no one deserves tribute less than that scumbag. This, then, is just a humble attempt at sharing my thoughts on one of the world’s most despicable human beings and his many cohorts in crime . . . every last one of them . . . all the way to the top of the pyramid.
I call it, simply:
SEX, EVIL AND KARMA
Most animals don’t copulate Unless it’s time to procreate; We humans are the only ones who do it just for pleasure.
It isn’t reproductive need — oh, No, it’s our accursed libido That guides us in deciding how to use our time of leisure.
*
When some, more highly sexed than most, Of evil natures also boast, You have a combination that is sure to spell disaster.
They use their money and their charm Naive young people to disarm, And lead them in a sick and cruel game of “Slave and Master.”
*
We know the story all too well Of Jeffrey Epstein’s man-made hell; I needn’t spell out details that would just be repetitious.
I simply want to ask if you Have better insight than I do Into the minds of people so abysmally malicious.
*
What mental aberration lurks Within the psyches of these jerks That they get off on causing pain with no trace of compassion?
I’ll never ever understand How anyone can lift a hand To harm a child in such a vicious and barbaric fashion.
*
But one thing that I know for sure: The world no longer can endure The presence of the guilty ones still walking free among us.
They must be brought to justice now, No mercy on them to endow. They are no better than the very lowest form of fungus.
*
And all their co-conspirators, And those who hide the files in drawers, Are just as guilty and must face the fallout alongside them.
For decent people everywhere Must make it absolutely clear That we who occupy this world no longer will abide them.
Something is going on in the Kremlin with regard to the war — sorry, the “special military operation” — in Ukraine, and it is going to keep me awake until we find out what it is, hopefully by next week.
A new round of peace talks had been tentatively scheduled to take place this week but were postponed, allegedly because of Washington’s focus on its little “excursion” in Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects the discussions to resume next week, either in Switzerland or Türkiye.
In the meantime, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov took this moment in time to announce that the 2022 Istanbul peace agreements are no longer relevant, saying that “reality has completely changed” and that, as a result, the previous frameworks “do not correspond to the situation.” [Cyril Barabaltchouk, United24Media, March 11, 2026.]
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov
But what has changed? Whose “reality”? What is the “situation”? And why are things different now?
To begin with, what Peskov referred to as the “Istanbul principles” are a set of demands that Moscow has consistently put forth in all of its so-called peace talks from day one. And last June, in a memorandum outlining its conditions for ending the war, the Kremlin again repeated the same terms. These, of course, include Ukraine’s ceding of the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; reducing its military forces; abandoning its goal of joining NATO; and sacrificing post-war security arrangements essential for its future protection against renewed aggression, among other onerous restrictions.
So why, after four years of refusing to give an inch, is Vladimir Putin suddenly changing direction . . . and which way is he turning?
Donald Trump’s sudden, inexplicable, utterly disastrous invasion of Iran has turned the entire world, including Russia, upside-down and inside-out. The bad news for Putin was that he lost a long-time ally when the Ayatollah Khamenei was killed; however, with the new supreme leader of Iran being the late Ayatollah’s son, it’s fairly safe to assume not much will change in the relationship between the two countries.
The really good news for Putin was that the disruption in the supply of oil from the Middle East has positioned Russia as the world’s largest exporter of that precious commodity, giving him an unexpected financial windfall with which to continue his assault on Ukraine.
A Man With a Plan
And let’s not overlook that hour-long phone call with Trump on Monday, described by Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov as “frank and businesslike.” He said that Putin had “voiced a few ideas aimed at a quick political and diplomatic settlement” of the Middle East situation, following conversations he had already had with Iran’s president and other Gulf state leaders. According to Ushakov, Putin and Trump also discussed Venezuela “in the context of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli operation . . . [and] the situation in the global oil market.” [PBS News, March 9, 2026.]
So they are all somehow interconnected: Ukraine, Venezuela, Israel and Iran; and the common denominator appears to be oil. The principal protagonists in this little drama are, of course, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu . . . three men with great power and even greater egos, and each with his own personal and political agenda.
But it is Putin who has an announcement to make.
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Now, I am neither smart enough nor diabolical enough to be able to second-guess Putin. But I do know that he is not a man who simply surrenders. Nor does he make an advance announcement of a coming event unless it’s favorable to him.
Vladimir Putin clearly has something up his sleeve, and we will all just have to wait until he’s damned good and ready to tell us what it is. Obviously, I don’t have a clue; but my “spidey senses” tell me we’re not going to be happy.
