It has taken many decades, but at last I’ve found it: the justification for that ever-present dish of Hershey’s Kisses next to my favorite chair. And the chocolate chip cookies in the cupboard, the chocolate pudding cups in the refrigerator, and the box of Godivas hidden in the closet.

At my advanced age, I don’t believe I need to justify myself to anyone any longer. But — and of course I blame my mother for this — there’s still that little guilt pang when I step on the bathroom scale and see that those extra ten pounds haven’t shifted . . . except perhaps from the left hip to the right.

So I was delighted when I happened upon a quote by American author Amy Neftzger, whose books I confess I have never read but will now probably be ordering because I like her attitude, her devotion to the Oxford comma, and this astute observation:

“I’m pretty sure that eating chocolate keeps wrinkles away
because I have never seen a 10 year old with a Hershey bar and crows feet.”

Thank you, Amy. I am finally free of my mother’s obsession with a youthful appearance and her belief in the rewards of sacrifice.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/11/25

Let’s be realistic: No one is immortal. That is an indisputable fact that even Donald Trump cannot change through bribery, bullying, or gaslighting. And it applies to world leaders as well as to us mere mortals.

Much has been made recently of Trump’s apparent inability to stay awake through meetings, his slurred and often incoherent speech, and his sickly appearance. He may have a good number of years ahead of him; but at 79, he is showing his age and an increasing measure of frailty.

But he’s not alone in the creeping decrepitude category. In the eastern hemisphere, three of the free world’s fiercest adversaries — and three of the five founding members of BRICS — are also in their declining years: Russian President Vladimir Putin, 73; Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, 72; and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 75.

In the way of autocrats the world over, each of them keeps details concerning their health secret, in order to maintain an aura of strength and omnipotence. But the fact remains that they are, in the end, mortal. And one day, either by reason of incapacity or death, they will need to be replaced.

So what would happen if any one of them were suddenly — in the words of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet — to “shuffle off this mortal coil”? Let’s look at Trump first, since the United States is the only one of the four countries with a clearly-mandated order of succession.

According to the U.S. Constitution, in the event of the death or other removal of the president, the vice-president immediately takes the oath of office, as happened with Roosevelt and Truman, and Kennedy and Johnson. In line after the vice-president are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and finally — in what would be an extraordinary circumstance — members of the Cabinet, beginning with the Secretaries of State, Treasury and Defense.

So, if this were to occur in the near future, we’re talking about JD Vance, Mike Johnson, Chuck Grassley (already 92 years old), Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Pete Hegseth, and so on.

Looking at that list — and I never thought I’d hear myself say this — I’d almost rather we followed the examples of countries that hold new free-for-all elections. Almost.

But what about those other countries?

China has no specific order of succession, and it is unclear whether anyone is currently favored as next in line. So in terms of the future, it is something of a wild card.

India also poses some interesting questions. While its Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been the public face of the Indian government, in reality he is third in power, following the president and vice-president. His position is filled by presidential appointment, but that appointment goes to the leader of the majority party or coalition in the lower house of parliament. Therefore, in the event of Modi’s death, the president would appoint an acting prime minister until the party elected a new leader, who would then assume the office.

*. *. *

The big question, of course, is what would happen in Russia if Putin were to die, or if — as some experts are prognosticating — his disastrous war against Ukraine were to drag his country’s economy and morale into such a downward spiral that the people finally declared “Enough!” and forced him out of office.

Russia has a constitution, which provides that, in the event of the death or other departure of the president, the prime minister (currently Mikhail Mishustin — never heard of him, have you?) becomes acting president until the next scheduled presidential election. That is how Putin inherited the office from Boris Yeltsin when Yeltsin resigned in December of 1999. In March of 2000, a new election was held, and Putin — to no one’s surprise — won handily.

But Mishustin does not appear to have Putin’s power base. What he does have is a lot more competition for the top job. There would first be a monumental internecine battle of Kremlin favorites — politicians and oligarchs aplenty — ready to cut each other’s throats (or start pushing people out of windows) to be first in line.

Then you would have the reformers — the dissidents anxious to guide the country back onto the road to democracy. Aleksei Navalny would have been the logical choice, had he not been eliminated by Putin in a Siberian prison camp. But some are now pointing to reformers-in-exile, such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, Garry Kasparov, or Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

In Russia, anything can happen. And with Vladimir Putin getting older, and his popularity waning as the war drags on and begins to be felt on Russian soil, the rest of the world needs to be prepared.

Exactly how we do that . . . well, thankfully, that’s not my job.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/11/25

As an animal lover, and a dog lover in particular, I have been happily slobbered over by a wide variety of fur babies throughout my lifetime . . . including, most memorably, a carriage horse named Nagano in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a gigantic Great Dane in the elevator of my apartment building in Virginia.

But never have I had the, uh, pleasure of being French-kissed by the likes of Ozzy, the four-year-old mastiff mix who just claimed the title for having the world’s longest tongue on a living dog. (I don’t know whether there’s a category for dead dogs . . . and frankly, I’d rather not find out.)

Measuring 7.83 inches (19.89 cm.), Ozzy’s prodigious protuberance surpasses the previous record holder’s by more than two inches. And judging from this photo, it appears to be too long to fit inside his mouth, where it actually belongs, without choking its owner.

So there it hangs, for all the world to marvel at. I should think it would dry out fairly quickly, thus requiring a constant supply of available water — most likely in a washtub, rather than a mere doggy bowl. And I wouldn’t want to be within a 10-foot perimeter when Ozzy decides to give his head a good shake.

But most interestingly, I’m trying to imagine how it would feel to be the object of Ozzy’s affections. He looks like a lovely fellow, possibly prone to lap-sitting and cuddling, despite his size. And when he decides to reward his loving owner — or, heaven forbid, a total stranger — with a giant slurp, I can only think it must feel like having your face scrubbed with a large slice of raw beef liver (but without the bloody residue).

But I jest.

Like all living creatures, human and otherwise, Ozzy has an imperfection. And that makes him unique and — in my opinion, at least — all the more adorable. If I were ever privileged to meet him, he would be welcome to move in for all of the hugs and big, sloppy kisses he would care to plant on me. I would ask only that his owners provide a towel.

So congratulations on your award, Ozzy. You’re a winner in every way, and I wish you a long, happy life with your loving family.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/10/25

I never thought I’d find myself quoting a member of the Trump family. But Sunday’s comment by Donald Trump, Jr. — not a philosopher, scholar, diplomat, or anything of note — bears repeating for its absurdity . . . and it’s terrifying implications.

And because it is the absolute truth.

Speaking about his father’s current views on Ukraine, the younger Trump indicated that the senior Trump could well walk away from the Ukraine peace efforts. And he had this insight to share with the world:

“What’s good about my father, and what’s unique about my father, is you don’t know what he’s going to do. The fact that he’s not predictable … forces everyone to actually deal in an intellectually honest capacity.”

[Nahal Toosi, Politico, December 7, 2025.]

Now, if you’re talking about someone’s kindly old grandfather, that might be considered cute, quirky, and even endearing. But when the subject is the supposed leader of the free world . . . well, “frightening” just doesn’t cover it.

What this country and the world need is not unpredictability. We’ve had our fill of surprises. We need sane, rational, intelligent leadership. And what we have at the helm is a loose cannon.

Whether by conscious choice or mental derangement remains to be determined.
But the fact that his son and namesake thinks that’s a good thing tells me all I need to know about genetics.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/10/25

For four long, brutal years, Ukraine — under the unrelenting leadership of President Volodymyr Zelensky — has withstood the Russian onslaught against their nation’s sovereignty and its very identity.

Every effort at reaching an agreement on peace terms, or even a ceasefire to allow for substantive negotiations, has been stymied by Vladimir Putin’s intransigence on certain specific points: territorial demands, future NATO membership for Ukraine, and security guarantees for Ukraine going forward being the principal sticking points.

And through it all, Zelensky has valiantly defended his nation’s right to exist, refusing to give away pieces of it to the aggressor who behaves like a schoolyard bully demanding lunch money from a smaller, weaker child, simply because he wants it.

Just two days ago, Zelensky stated firmly that “Ukraine has no right — and no intention — to give up its territories, emphasizing that this is forbidden by Ukrainian law, by international law, and by basic morality.” [Ukraine News, December 8, 2025.]

One of Putin’s persistent — and transparently incorrect — claims has been that, since the spring of 2024, Zelensky has not been the legitimate president of Ukraine due to the suspension of scheduled elections while the country remained at war . . . a suspension required by Ukraine’s own constitution.

Now, disturbingly, a statement by Zelensky brings that issue into question. In the midst of talks with U.S. and European leaders, he said yesterday that “it’s time” — that he is ready to hold elections if the U.S. and other partners will provide the security necessary to ensure the vote can be held safely, and that he would press Parliament to draft the necessary legislation to allow elections to be held during martial law. [RFE/RL, December 9, 2025.]

Holding elections in wartime would require a cessation of hostilities in order to enable the thousands of front-line military personnel and millions of displaced civilians to vote safely. The election would also have to be independently monitored to ensure against unlawful interference — which is a whole other can of woms.

Zelensky said that an election could be held in 60 to 90 days if such security guarantees and a ceasefire were in place:

“I’m asking now, and stating this openly, for the US, perhaps with our European partners, to help me ensure the security needed to hold elections. I personally have the will and readiness for this.” [Id.]

The obvious question is: Why now? What has happened to cause this 180-degree turn?

I can only surmise that the pressure being applied in the wake of Donald Trump’s 28-point proposal offering Ukraine to Vladimir Putin on a silver platter, followed by his Europe-bashing contained in the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS), have had more than a little effect on President Zelensky’s morale and his hope for continued support from the U.S. The entire dynamic of the U.S.-Europe-Ukraine discussions has shifted . . . in the wrong direction.

And that is nothing less than an epic disaster, not only for Ukraine, but for the future of Europe and the entire post-World War II fight for democracy.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/10/25

Salman Rushdie has an altogether too intimate acquaintance with tyranny.

The Indian-born, British-American historian and novelist is best known for his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses. When published in 1988, Islamic factions saw it as an irreverent depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, and Iran’s leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death.

Forced into hiding for years following several assassination attempts, Rushdie eventually returned to living openly, and was blinded in one eye by yet another stabbing attack at the Chautauqua Institution in New York in 2022.

So yes . . . he understands tyranny and tyrants all too well. And in a satirical fantasy published in 2015, he had this to say on the subject:

“The enemy is stupid, he replied. That is ground for hope. There is no originality in tyrants, and they learn nothing from the demise of their precursors. They will be brutal and stifling and engender hatred and destroy what men love and that will defeat them. All important battles are, in the end, conflicts between hatred and love, and we must hold to the idea that love is stronger than hate.”

– Salman Rushdie, “Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights”

*. *. *

We can only hope that Rushdie’s optimistic view of the self-defeating nature of tyranny holds true. But hope alone isn’t a guarantee of success; we need to keep fighting the good fight in order to restore the democratic principles we hold so dear.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/9/25

Don’t you just love that scene in an action movie when the evil villain’s plans blow up in his own face? Of course, you do.

And when the villain is none other than Sadist-in-Chief Donald Trump, that moment is especially gratifying.

A little background: Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar, a conservative Democrat, has been serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas’ 28th Congressional District since 2005. In May of 2024, during the Biden administration, Cuellar was indicted on charges of money laundering, bribery and conspiracy by a federal grand jury in Houston, Texas. The indictment alleged that he had accepted some $600,000 from Azerbaijan and a Mexican commercial bank to influence U.S. policy. His criminal trial was scheduled to begin in April of 2026.

In a preemptive action, Donald Trump decided on December 3rd to pardon Cuellar before he could be tried and possibly convicted, saying that he had been politically targeted by the Biden administration after he “bravely spoke out against Open Borders.” [Grace Eliza Goodwin, BBC, December 7, 2025.]

Wait . . . what?!! Trump pardoned a Democrat? And praised him for speaking out against administration policy? Really?

Well, yes. But it was the Biden administration’s policy, remember. And Cuellar is a conservative Democrat, representing a large swath of a state that is already engaged in blatant, illegal, racial gerrymandering in order to ensure a substantial Republican majority in the House of Representatives following next year’s mid-term elections. And in return for that pardon, Trump clearly anticipated that Cuellar would show his gratitude by switching his party affiliation.

But Cuellar — whether or not guilty of the crimes specified in the indictment — apparently has a mind of his own, and some measure of political integrity. Because, just hours after receiving his pardon, he filed for re-election . . . as a Democrat.

And Donald Trump, predictably, exploded on social media:

“Such a lack of LOYALTY. Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy.” [Id.]

Right . . . as though he ever, in his entire life, has done anything for anyone out of the goodness of his heart, without a self-serving ulterior motive.

This time, however, in his ongoing effort to sabotage the entire Democratic party, Trump’s weapon backfired.

I’m afraid Congressman Cuellar may not have heard the last of Donald Trump; as a “conservative” Democrat, he might still be amenable to voting on specific issues across party lines . . . and you can bet your Aunt Fanny that he will be under constant pressure from above to do just that.

But for now, he can stand tall for not having immediately sold out.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/9/25

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Vlad . . . your old pal Donnie has outdone himself in the gift department this year.

No gold-plated trinkets for you. After all, you already own the treasures of the Kremlin Armory and St. Petersburg’s Hermitage. What do you need with a fake peace prize when you have palaces overflowing with genuine Faberge eggs and crown jewels?

No, your big gift this year — as already hinted at (none too subtly) by White House envoy Steve Witkoff — is land. Lots and lots of beautiful agricultural land, mineral deposits and industrial property. And it’s only taken four years and a million human casualties to make your wish come true.

*. *. *

While delegations from Washington and Moscow have held closed-door meetings and phone conferences concerning the fate of Ukraine, bits and pieces of information have found their way into the public domain. We already know of the chummy gathering in Moscow of a pair of American real estate moguls — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — with experienced politicians Vladimir Putin and Yuri Ushakov. But, other than the fact that no peace deal was reached, we have been given few details.

However, there was also a conversation between Witkoff and Ushakov in which — according to a transcript of the meeting as reported by Bloomberg* — Witkoff told Ushakov point blank:

“Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere.” [Robert Reich, Substack.com, December 8, 2025.]

* I was unable to read the Bloomberg report itself, as opening the link required a paid subscription. As a matter of principle, I refuse to be coerced into paying for news.

And, after giving away some 20% of Ukrainian territory to Russia, Witkoff had no hesitation in admitting to The Wall Street Journal that there had also been talks with Russia about oil, gas and rare-earth minerals deals, which he characterized as constituting “a bulwark against future conflicts there. Because everybody’s thriving.” [Id.]

Right . . . if one’s definition of “everybody” is limited to Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and a handful of their very closest friends.

Then there was last week’s issuance of the new U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS), which in itself is a whole other Pandora’s box of horrors. While depicting Europe as just short of worthless, Trump’s NSS eliminates language from prior administrations that described Russia as a threat, thus providing Putin & Co. with the best little stocking-stuffer gift of all.

As reported to state-owned Russian news agency TASS by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

“We considered this a positive step. Overall, these messages are certainly in contrast with approaches of previous administrations.” [Max Saltman, Jennifer Hansler and Billy Stockwell, CNN, December 7, 2025.]

Yeah . . . you’re damned right they’re in contrast!

Whereas former President Biden’s 2022 NSS had said that Russia posed “an immediate threat to the free and open international system, recklessly flouting the basic laws of the international order today, as its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has shown,” the Trump version foresees the U.S. having a major role in diplomacy to re-establish “conditions of stability within Europe and strategic stability with Russia,” and for “ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance.” [Id.]

*. *. *

You know that “new world order” that China, Russia and the other members of BRICS have been building to overtake Western political and economic dominance? Well, it appears as though they too have just been handed a lovely holiday gift . . . and by the very country they want most to defeat.

You just can’t make this stuff up.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/8/25

Throughout the ages, wise leaders — whether in politics, science, academia, or business and industry — have surrounded themselves with aides and advisors whose experience and wisdom have served to help their bosses appear even smarter. Julius Caesar had his Mark Antony; Richard Nixon had Henry Kissinger; Pierre and Marie Curie had each other; and so on.

But you can’t fix stupid. And stupid people believe that they will appear intelligent if they associate only with total idiots. And thus we have today’s U.S. administration.

Albert Einstein understood a great deal more than just the theory of relativity; he understood people as well. And he had this to say about his fellow man:

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”

And stand-up comedian George Carlin — neither a scholar nor a scientist, but devilishly (and cynically) wise to the ways of the human species — had this bit of advice:

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”

How right they both were. And wouldn’t they have had a field day with the current gang of Mensa rejects in Washington!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/8/25

Just when I thought life was beginning to get boring down on the farm, the Feenstras pulled off the surprise of the year: They’re going home. To Canada. With a side trip — another 2,500 miles — to Florida.

It’s just a vacation, mind you . . . or so Arend Feenstra, in his latest online video, kept reassuring his audience (and the Russian authorities), repeating that they will, “100% for sure,” be coming back to Nizhny Novgorod. But they’ll be gone for quite a while — about four to six weeks — though he was skimpy on the details.

So how did all of this come about? The bureaucratic red tape alone must have been a nightmare. And he failed to mention certain details, like what passports they would be using. I assume the answer is their Canadian ones, as they are still technically Canadian citizens, and they would likely have had a difficult time getting into both Canada and the U.S. on any sort of Russian passports.

Arend began the video with a little tour of the farm they have built over the last 16 months: 280 acres on which they have constructed, from scratch, a large house, shop, barn, guest house, and other accoutrements. He emphasized that it had been a family effort, and that — while they are very happy there — they are exhausted. They also miss the family and friends they left behind in Canada (including their eldest son, whom he didn’t mention).

Anticipating some probable questions from his viewers, he said they had considered vacationing within Russia, but that it was extremely difficult, and expensive, to find accommodation for ten people. Back in Canada, they have a motor home that they did not sell when they left, and they can supposedly all fit comfortably into it . . . though I have a hard time visualizing myself sharing even the most luxurious motor home with nine other people, no matter how much I might love them. Maybe some of the kids will bunk with relatives.

So their accommodations will be free. But what about the plane fare? A Google search indicated that the average cost of a single round-trip ticket from Moscow to Saskatchewan can cost anywhere from US $1,000 to $2,000. Multiply that times ten, and you’ve got . . .

Holy crap! That’s between $10,000 and $20,000, just for air fare. That would buy a really nice month-long vacation on, for example, the Black Sea coast . . . if it weren’t for that pesky “special military operation” in the region.

But never fear . . . because the intrepid, fiercely independent Feenstra family was all too happy to accept the generosity of family and friends who offered to cover the bulk of their travel costs. (Remind me to hire the Feenstras for my next fund-raiser.)

There were some brief shots of the family getting organized and packing for the trip, which is a logistical nightmare of its own. I well remember my years of overseas travel, and the lists I made so that I wouldn’t forget anything important . . . and I was only packing for myself, not for ten. Then there’s the thought of traveling that distance with eight children; changing planes, presumably in Istanbul (one of the few countries still friendly to both Russia and the West); keeping track of the luggage; and dealing with jet lag x 10.

*. *. *

The video closed with yet a further assurance that the family’s viewers would be kept apprised of their travels, and that they were looking forward to another successful year on the farm when they — 100% for sure — return.

But it left me, inevitably, with questions.

First was the matter of the farm. It’s winter, so the gardens are dormant. But there are animals to be cared for — chickens, geese, calves, pigs, goats, and the family’s dog. The house and farm equipment have to be looked after. Who will do all of that?

Why, the Pulleys, of course: the Australian emigre family who currently occupy the guest house on the property. But Justin Pulley is not a farmer by trade, and as preparations for the big departure were underway, he was being given lessons in the operation of the tractor and a crash course in animal husbandry. I wish them all — the Pulleys and the livestock — the best of luck.

Second question: Arend mentioned “helping some people” while they were back home, but didn’t specify what kind of help, or whether the people were in Canada or the U.S. He even spoke of having to pack some work clothes. I thought this trip was supposed to give the whole family time to relax.

Third: Why Florida? He said they were looking forward to some warm weather. But southern California is closer by about 800 miles . . . Oh, wait — I’ve got it. California is too “woke,” whereas Florida is politically more conservative. Okay . . . next question.

And that would be a “what if” question: namely, what if, once they get back to Canada, they realize that’s where they really belong? Do they just chuck the effort and expense of the last two years and start all over again?

Or, more ominously, what if — having developed 280 acres of fallow property into a working, profitable farm — they are told by the Russian government that their property is being confiscated and they’re not welcome to return? It doesn’t seem likely, of course; but in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, nothing can be taken for granted.

*. *. *

Perhaps I’m seeing problems where there aren’t any, and this is just a really good opportunity for a hard-working family to enjoy a little down time. I hope so.

In any event, I look forward to following the adventures of the Feenstras as they leave tomorrow (Tuesday) on that long trek home for Christmas. Here’s hoping it’s a merry one.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/8/25