Ordinarily, I would be reading now . . . researching, outlining, preparing to offer my take on some significant piece of world news, or perhaps simply taking a verbal stroll through some little-known bits of ancient history for today’s blog posting.
But I’m not doing that today, because I’m still trying to decide whether to continue battling Facebook’s censors, or call it quits.
Someone close to me, who is very smart, is of the opinion that the decisions as to the appropriateness of FB postings and whether or not to remove them — what I call censorship — may possibly be made, not by real people, but by AI technology. He is an IT professional, and much more knowledgeable about such things than I could ever hope to be, so I take him seriously.
And if he is correct . . . well, even the remote possibility scares the bejeezus out of me.
Simply put, I do not want my life controlled by ‘bots, or creatures that exist only on an imaginary “cloud,” or in the “metaverse,” or whatever it’s called.
This is not George Orwell’s 1984 . . . but it’s beginning to feel more and more like it. And we need to stop before it becomes impossible to distinguish what is real from what isn’t, and we all wind up in rubber rooms under the control of the few people — the mad geniuses who created the technology in the first place — who still know the truth.
O.D.’d on A.I.
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But about all that spare time I mentioned: It appears from the foregoing that I’ll be spending at least some of it writing about things that bother me.
NOTE: Despite my current beef with FB’s censors, I cannot — will not — overlook my pledge to remember the illegally-held hostages in Russia’s prisons who are still awaiting word of some progress toward their release. And though (mercifully) I have no word of any new hostages this week, there is news of a Russian prisoner’s added sentence, for whom I willingly break my silence.
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You may have tried this trick with your children when they were small: If they complained of being bored with all of their old toys and games, and you weren’t ready to buy new ones, you might secretly have dug through the box of forgotten toys, pulled out a couple of things they hadn’t seen in a year or so, and tried to renew their interest in them as though they were brand new. They may have caught on eventually, but at least you would have bought yourself some time.
That almost seems to be the sort of thing that’s happening in Russia these days. When they temporarily run short of outspoken dissidents to arrest, do they simply pull out an old file and invent a reason to extend an existing prisoner’s sentence?
Aleksei Gorinov might think so.
Aleksei Gorinov
Gorinov, a former Moscow municipal deputy, was sentenced in July 2022 to seven years in prison for spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. What he had done was voice his opposition to the invasion of Ukraine in February of that year.
Then, in October of 2023 — while serving that original sentence — a new case was opened against him, charging him with “justifying terrorism.” The evidence: reports by fellow inmates of an alleged conversation regarding Ukraine’s Azov Regiment. [RFE/RL, November 29, 2024.]
And this week, following a three-day trial, Aleksei Gorinov, 63, was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for “justifying terrorism.”
The sign reads, “I am against war.”
Gorinov, adamantly denying the new charges, has said:
“I am far from any ideology of terrorism. I am a committed internationalist and an opponent of war and violence, as I have consistently stated publicly throughout my life.” [Id.]
Gorinov — one of the most prominent of the dissidents left behind after the August prisoner swap with the West — was the first person sentenced under the new “fake news” law. Earlier this year, after being held in a detention center in Moscow, he was transferred to a prison in the Vladimir region, where he has complained of being placed in solitary confinement in a cold cell without a mattress, blanket, or hot water. He is in ill health, but says he has received no treatment.
Following an appeal on his behalf to the International Committee of the Red Cross, an inspection was made and Gorinov was moved to a slightly better cell “with a window that opens and closes, a functioning toilet, and reportedly no mice.” [Id.]
That’s supposed to make him feel better.
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And while the Russian hierarchy continues its paranoid purge of alleged dissidents, the American and other hostages remaining in prison on specious political charges continue to await their turn. Now numbering sixteen, they are:
David Barnes Staff Sergeant Gordon Black Marc Fogel Robert Gilman Stephen James Hubbard Ksenia Karelina Andrey Kuznechyk (in Belarus) Michael Travis Leake Ihar Losik (in Belarus) Daniel Martindale Farid Mehralizada (in Azerbaijan) Robert Shonov Eugene Spector Laurent Vinatier Robert Romanov Woodland Vladislav Yesypenko (in Crimea)
We must ensure that the new administration being inaugurated in Washington in January continues, without interruption, the work that has been underway up to this time. These hostages, and all the others whose names have not yet made it onto the list, must be brought home.
You know the one I mean — the amendment to the U.S. Constitution that protects every citizen’s absolute right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, among other things. It’s one of every American’s most valued privileges . . . one that separates us from those countries that are ruled by the purveyors of tyranny, oppression, and censorship.
And speaking of censorship . . .
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a censor as “one who supervises conduct and morals, such as an official . . . who examines materials for objectionable matter,” or “an official . . . who reads communications . . . and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful.”
What constitutes “sensitive or harmful” material . . . and what qualifies an individual to make those judgments . . . have long been the subject of controversy. In times of war, for example, protection of national secrets becomes paramount. But on a day-to-day basis, in the lives of ordinary people, we Americans treasure our ability to say pretty much what we think and feel, so long as we don’t cause harm to anyone else. There are protective laws against libel and slander, bullying, and the like; and so long as we remain cognizant of them, and don’t make up vicious lies about another person, we are free to call them anything we like . . . and vice-versa.
But are we? The advent of social media put a whole new face on the world of name-calling, and brought to the surface a level of anger and hatred previously kept submerged in most of our fellow human beings. It also provided a means of spreading that vitriol farther and faster than any known virus or bacterium could move.
So somewhere along the line it was decided that controls were needed to minimize the spread of negativity and potential damage to others. And there are valid arguments in favor of such controls . . . and equally valid arguments against them. Some people, in various parts of the world, have even chosen to go to prison rather than give up the confidential information of their online customers — people such as Pavel Durov, creator of VKontakte (Russia’s equivalent of Facebook), and more recently of the widely-used Telegram messaging service.
Pavel Durov
And speaking of Facebook . . .
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At last, we arrive at the point of this article, beyond the review of our constitutional rights. And that point is that:
I am being censored.
I don’t know how the content controls operate at Facebook, but someone, somewhere in that vast bureaucracy has decided that some of my writing is objectionable, and — always within seconds of posting — I will receive a notice that a piece has been deleted. The “explanation,” if you can call it that, is usually something incredibly lame, such as my allegedly fishing for “likes.” There is never an indication of any actually offensive content . . . no threats, nothing libelous . . . just “outside of Facebook’s guidelines,” whatever they may be.
Now, for those of you who have read any of my offerings, it should be apparent that I put a lot of time and effort into them. I do not post pictures of my daily activities, or pets, or failed recipes, or travels — any of the fun things that could only possibly be of interest to my real-life friends and relatives. I do not care about ads for cheap goods from companies of questionable repute. I do love hearing from people with whom I had lost contact.
But what I do is write. Mostly about world events — commentaries on the day’s news — and sometimes also about random subjects that pop into my mind from time to time, like growing up in small-town New England in the ‘40s and ‘50s, or climbing a mountain in Czechoslovakia.
And sometimes I express my disdain for certain famous people — people like Vladimir Putin and his cronies. Or the occasional American political figure, who shall remain unnamed here because I don’t want this article to disappear along with this morning’s.
But who doesn’t do that? Any editorial, in any print or online publication, will be likely to outdo me in the criticism department. That is their right — and mine — as Americans, as long as we do not lie (even though the people we write about may do just that).
And I like to use pictures to illustrate or emphasize my points. Like this one:
So what? They’re pictures that I’ve found online, and are already in the public domain.
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All right, then . . . I think I’ve made my point. Let me just say that, yes, I am pissed. This is not the first time it’s happened. I have had it with Facebook’s censors, and their arbitrary decisions as to what I may or may not say on their precious site. So if you don’t see anything from me for a while, it will be because I am taking time to cool down and to decide whether to carry on or drop out.
As an American, it is my inalienable right to do either.
This being a holiday weekend — here in the U.S., at least — when we’re all focused on family and friends and giving thanks, I decided to flip past today’s usual news items of wars and other killings, political infighting and natural disasters, in search of something amusing . . . or at least on the lighter side.
And I found it — at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, where the Trump family’s Thanksgiving dinner looked more like a bar mitzvah celebration.
Mazel Tov!
I haven’t seen the guest list, nor do I care who was seated at all those other tables. But at the host’s table, in addition to Melania and Barron Trump — and seated directly next to Donald Trump himself — was the newest member of the clan . . . the guy who seems to be everywhere that Trump is . . . the omnipresent keeper of the presidential-elect secrets . . . the man I call “The Big X”: none other than Mr. Elon Musk.
One of the other guests — a French jewelry designer by the name of Yaakov Safar — took a video of Trump and Musk when they decided to bust a few moves to the Village People’s classic “Y-M-C-A,” while still seated. [Kit Maher, CNN, November 29, 2024.]
I would have paid a lot to see that!
The power couple (Trump and Musk — not Trump and Mrs. Trump, as you might expect) also worked the room together, stopping at each table to speak to the guests. As reported by Safar, “ . . . the rest of the time he spoke with Barron and Elon in great discussions on a lot of subjects, and the joy was enormous.” [Id.]
There’s no hint of what Melania Trump was thinking while the guys were doing their host-and-host duty and conferring between themselves and with 18-year-old Barron . . . though I imagine she was relieved to have been spared that task.
At least she was at the host’s table.
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On the day following the election, Trump’s granddaughter Kai had posted a Trump family photo in which Musk also appeared. Along with another picture including Musk, Kai said that he had achieved “uncle status.” [Id.]
Uncle Elon. How sweet!
And at an America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, Trump himself joked about Musk’s constant presence:
“He likes this place. I can’t get him out of here. He just likes this place.”[Id.]
Yeah, I’ll bet he does. What billionaire power junky wouldn’t shell out $118 million to buy his way into the Emperor’s inner circle?
This being a holiday weekend — here in the U.S., at least — when we’re all focused on family and friends and giving thanks, I decided to flip past today’s usual news items of wars and other killings, political infighting and natural disasters, in search of something amusing . . . or at least on the lighter side.
And I found it — at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, where the Trump family’s Thanksgiving dinner looked more like a bar mitzvah celebration.
Mazel Tov!
I haven’t seen the guest list, nor do I care who was seated at all those other tables. But at the host’s table, in addition to Melania and Barron Trump — and seated directly next to Donald Trump himself — was the newest member of the clan . . . the guy who seems to be everywhere that Trump is . . . the omnipresent keeper of the presidential-elect secrets . . . the man I call “The Big X”: none other than Mr. Elon Musk.
One of the other guests — a French jewelry designer by the name of Yaakov Safar — took a video of Trump and Musk when they decided to bust a few moves to the Village People’s classic “Y-M-C-A,” while still seated. [Kit Maher, CNN, November 29, 2024.]
I would have paid a lot to see that!
The power couple (Trump and Musk — not Trump and Mrs. Trump, as you might expect) also worked the room together, stopping at each table to speak to the guests. As reported by Safar, “ . . . the rest of the time he spoke with Barron and Elon in great discussions on a lot of subjects, and the joy was enormous.” [Id.]
There’s no hint of what Melania Trump was thinking while the guys were doing their host-and-host duty and conferring between themselves and with 18-year-old Barron . . . though I imagine she was relieved to have been spared that task.
At least she was at the host’s table.
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On the day following the election, Trump’s granddaughter Kai had posted a Trump family photo in which Musk also appeared. Along with another picture including Musk, Kai said that he had achieved “uncle status.” [Id.]
Uncle Elon. How sweet!
And at an America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, Trump himself joked about Musk’s constant presence:
“He likes this place. I can’t get him out of here. He just likes this place.”[Id.]
Yeah, I’ll bet he does. What billionaire power junky wouldn’t shell out $118 million to buy his way into the Emperor’s inner circle?
The late Sir Winston Churchill once famously described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
And he nailed it, all right! Like these matryoshka dolls — nested one inside another inside another — Russia is many-layered, with always another surprise hidden inside.
Russian Matryoshka Nesting Dolls
Which is why I firmly believe — despite their cheery outward appearances on their YouTube broadcasts — that the Feenstra family is in for a rude awakening in the not-too-distant future. And I worry about them.
After a very rocky start on arriving in Russia — during which their bank account was frozen, they were crammed into a one-room Soviet-style apartment with no sign of the farm they had been promised, and they were informed that they might not be allowed to stay because they did not speak Russian — the discouraged matriarch of the family, Anneesa Feenstra, broadcast that she hated it there and wanted to go home.
Then she publicly apologized. And suddenly, and quite miraculously, all of their problems seemed to vanish. Their funds were released to them, and they found themselves on a large, fertile piece of farmland where they have been building a big house and outbuildings, growing vegetables, driving a new van big enough for their family of ten, obtaining all of the assistance and materials they need . . . and even being told that the law had been changed concerning the language requirement!
All doors were suddenly open to them . . . including the “door” to international telecommunications in the form of a YouTube channel, when most independent media have been silenced. So we are now able to hear daily from the Feenstras — primarily Arend — and witness their progress as they build their dream life in the land of endless opportunity: Russia.
With big, toothy smiles plastered on all ten of their faces, they guide us through the days of hard work: hammering, sawing, hauling, painting, ploughing, planting, harvesting . . . They didn’t come to Russia seeking an easy life; they were farmers in Canada, accustomed to hard work. And they seem to thrive on it.
But there’s always time for the daily propaganda . . . er, YouTube broadcast . . . which — while occasionally including a problem or a glitch of some sort — always has a happy ending, and a mention or two of how blessed they are to be living in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. They even managed to hoist a big Russian flag in honor of their new homeland at the entrance to their property.
Flying the Flag of Freedom on the Feenstra Farm
And yesterday Arend Feenstra spoke of the “great day” they had had, first attending a meeting at OKA. I didn’t know what that was, so I looked it up and found that it is an agency in Nizhny Novgorod designated to assist foreigners wishing to move to Russia. There have been earlier reports showing the Feenstras greeting newly-arriving families from Canada and the U.S., as though they may actually be acting as a welcoming committee, perhaps for OKA (though that was not mentioned). In fact, the purpose of yesterday’s “meeting” was not specified at all.
And after that — or perhaps as part of the OKA event — was a talk by one Maria Putina, who, speaking in English, introduced herself as a “lawmaker” with the Ministry of Foreign Relations (described by Arend Feenstra as the “Foreign Relations Committee”) and offered her services to assist with any problems the country’s newest residents might encounter.
Whether these “meetings” are required or voluntary is not clear. What is obvious is that the Russian government is still very much a part of the Feenstras’ lives . . . and likely to remain so.
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The broadcast then segued to their stop, on the way home from the business part of their day, to pick up a slew of packages that had arrived for them from friends — apparently, some of them being from fans of their YouTube programs. These contained a brand-new sewing machine, a sewing basket filled with accessories, and a lot of clothes — mostly warm wraps, gloves, and lots of socks. It appears these generous donations are a substantial part of what’s been keeping the family supplied with necessities they might otherwise find it difficult to obtain.
The Sewing Machine (screen shot from YouTube video)
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There seems to be a big push in Moscow these days to encourage immigration from many parts of the world, unlike so many countries that have been discouraging it for reasons of security or economic concerns. And the Feenstras — with their ready-made family of eight healthy, hard-working children, eager to blend into the conservative lifestyle of their adopted country — are the perfect face of that movement.
They’re very outspoken about their religious and moral beliefs. But what about their political views? Do they even have any? That is never mentioned. How do they feel about the war in Ukraine? That is best not talked about at all. Do they even know anything about Putin’s territorial ambitions? I doubt it.
As long as they continue to live the life they prefer on the farm, and remain the well-behaved, favorite emigre family of their new president, they’ll be fine. But fame fades, and one day a new family from another country will come along to take the torch from them and run with it. Or there will be a change of focus in the administration, or perhaps even a change of leadership.
And then, when the Feenstras are just another large family living on the Russian economy . . . well, then what do those eight children have to look forward to?
Life is always something of a crap shoot. But in Russia, it’s usually a bit heavier on the crap.
We’ve all struggled, from time to time, with a choice of the right people to name as professional and character references on our resumes or for a mortgage loan application: perhaps a former boss, the family physician, or a member of the clergy.
But how many of us can claim to have the backing, the confidence — even the praise — of this individual? Not many.
Vladimir Putin, Speaking at Astana, Kazakhstan – November 28, 2024
But Donald Trump can.
Attending a security summit this week in Astana, capital of the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, Putin was asked whether U.S. President Biden’s decision to permit Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory would impact future relations between Moscow and Washington. He responded that Biden had created “additional difficulties” for the incoming Trump administration, and again threatened to deploy Russia’s nuclear-capable ballistic missile, the “Oreshnik,” against Ukraine.
Putin further suggested that things might improve after Trump takes office:
“As far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person. I think he will find a solution.” [Christian Edwards, Darya Tarasova and Lauren Kent, CNN, November 28, 2024.]
Is he talking about the same former president whom he manipulated like a well-behaved marionette for four years from 2016 through 2020?
Apparently so, because he then went on to praise Trump further, specifically with regard to his having overcome a “serious test” — referring to the two failed assassination attempts during recent campaign rallies. He also spoke of the “absolutely uncivilized means of struggle [that] were used against Trump” . . . and expressed his own fear that Donald Trump may not currently be safe. [Id.]
Well, as an expert on the subject of assassinations, he obviously knows what he’s talking about.
He also drew on his many years of experience in the field of political and legal persecution when he chastised the U.S. judicial system for the “humiliating, unfounded judicial procedures [to which Trump had been] subjected” . . . referring, of course, to Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. [Id.]
What’s that old saying about the pot calling the kettle black? Oh, well . . .
I don’t know whether the next four years will be a whole lot of fun, but I can almost guarantee — with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy at the helms of their respective countries — they won’t be boring.
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Returning to the subject of Russia’s threatening to attack Ukraine’s “decision-making centers,” and whether those might refer to military or political facilities, Putin responded with an old Russian joke:
“You know, in Soviet times there was a joke about weather forecasts? Here’s the forecast: today, during the day, anything is possible.” [Id.]
The CNN report doesn’t mention whether anyone else laughed.
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It might impress some people to see the name of a world leader on a resume. But if I ever again need a reference for any purpose, I think I’ll stick with the family doctor or a former boss, or even the nice young man who delivers my prescriptions. Because . . . to paraphrase one more old aphorism . . .
“With friends like Vladimir Putin, who needs enemies?”
I know I said I was taking the day off from writing, but one news item just begs for comment; and since it involves the future of my country — our country — I could not shove it aside.
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As we all sit down to dinner today — whether it be turkey, or lasagna, or Peking duck — most of us will have something to be thankful for.
And I’m sure there are numerous people . . . I can think of four in particular . . . who will give thanks to this guy:
. . . for ruining their Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, New Year’s, and possibly the rest of their lives.
But what does it matter to him? He’s the richest — and arguably the second most powerful — man in the world. His net worth is currently estimated at nearly $350 billion. That’s billion, with nine zeroes after the first comma: $350,000,000,000.
So people (and this is just the beginning) such as the woman employed as Director of Climate Diversification at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; a second woman, the chief climate officer in the loan programs office at the Department of Energy; and a third woman, serving as senior advisor on environmental justice and climate change at the Department of Health and Human Services; and yet a fourth, a senior adviser on climate at the Department of Housing and Urban Development . . . all four of these accomplished professionals should give thanks today to Elon Musk for singling them out as candidates for the unemployment line. [Hadas Gold and Rene Marsh, CNN, November 27, 2024.]
His comment on X as to the last of the four was that she “should not be paid $181,648.00 by the US taxpayer to be the ‘Climate advisor’ at HUD. But maybe her advice is amazing.” Followed by two laughing emojis! [Id.]
Very funny . . . not.
So her hard-earned salary is a waste of taxpayer money . . . but the $465 million awarded to Musk’s own Tesla Motors in 2010 by the Department of Energy — the very office employing the second woman he has designated as expendable — was a justifiable taxpayer expense . . . right? It all seems to depend on who is receiving those dollars.
And then to publicly announce their names, so that they have become subject to harassment, and at least one death threat! What was he thinking?!! He doesn’t even have the authority yet. In fact, his so-called Department of Government Efficiency only exists — in his mind and Donald Trump’s — as a future possibility.
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As an average taxpayer for sixty years, Elon Musk wouldn’t want to hear what I have to say about him or his ideas for the future of my country. Because he is talking — not only about the lives of numerous individuals, but about the worsening climate crisis that is enveloping the entire world — as though they don’t even exist.
So I will say no more now, because I have learned that it is best that I not speak — or write — when I am turning purple with righteous anger.
I will instead leave it to my readers, who are also intelligent, hard-working, tax-paying individuals, to form their own conclusions as to Musk’s qualifications to be the judge of who is, or is not, entitled to “live long and prosper.” **
While there is much going on throughout the world that is worrisome, upsetting, and even frightening, this is a day to focus on our blessings. On a personal level, I have much to be thankful for: family, friends, a good home, and the mere fact that I have made it to another holiday season.
Not to mention my gratitude for the obvious fact that I am not a turkey on this day when — if they were at all smart — they would be running for their very lives.
So I shall leave my usual snarky writing for another day, and devote this one to loved ones near and far, and memories of those who are no longer with us and are oh-so-sorely missed.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I’ll be back tomorrow.
Given an opportunity to visit a different era, either past or future, I would prefer to go back a few decades, to when I was younger, stronger, and much better-looking, and when life seemed so much simpler — say, the 1950s. But, unlike the fictitious Marty McFly, we’re not given that choice; the irresistible force of time keeps us moving forward, whether we want to or not. There’s no such thing as a “flux capacitor” — although I’ve heard a rumor that Elon Musk may be working on it.
“Back To the Future” – Universal Pictures, 1985
I gave up making New Year’s resolutions a long time ago. I don’t know anyone — myself included — who ever kept theirs. But as we approach the start of another year that promises to be as bad as — if not a thousand times worse than — the last one, I thought I’d give it another shot, in an attempt to keep from making the same mistakes again.
So, here we go . . .
Resolution No. 1: I will eat as much as I want, of whatever I want, whenever I feel like it. I lost my girlish figure years ago; a few extra pounds no longer matter, as long as I don’t outgrow my clothes because at today’s prices I can’t afford a whole new wardrobe.
Resolution No. 2: Screw the whole exercise thing. I hate it; I’ve always hated it. And it gets harder every year. If I feel like taking a walk, or just getting up out of my easy chair to go to the refrigerator again, I will. But I won’t be doing anything requiring exertion on a regular basis.
Yeah . . . not gonna happen.
Resolution No. 3: I will keep Amazon in business again this year, and will make at least one ridiculous, wasteful purchase each month. Economizing is for younger people who can expect to live for many more years, as long as they don’t smoke, drink hard liquor or sodas, eat meat, take really hot baths, get vaccinated, fail to get vaccinated, travel, drive or ride in a motor vehicle, or argue with any big tattooed guys named Bubba or Snake.
Resolution No. 4: I will not suffer fools, lightly or otherwise. If that means breaking an earlier promise to myself not to write about domestic (U.S.) politics . . . well, so be it. Because there are way too many fools out there right now, and the temptation is just too f*cking irresistible.
Candidate for U.S. Cabinet
Resolution No. 5: I was going to resolve to speak my mind — sometimes diplomatically, but always honestly — on all subjects. But I already do that, so let’s just say I’ll keep doing it.
My Idol: Maxine
Resolution No. 6: Our family’s cat is an old girl. I’m going to make her love me before one of us dies.
Resolution No. 7: That pile of “to-be-read” books over there? I pledge to read one of them this year.
Resolution No. 8: And as for the clutter in my closets . . . I will learn to accept it. It’s time to get over my OCD problem.
And finally . . .
Resolution No. 9: I will keep writing my blog each day, for as long as my mind and my fingers keep working in sync. And I resolve to continue, within the parameters of said blog, skewering every government leader, politician, billionaire, obnoxious celebrity, and Kremlin spokesman (yes, that’s you, Dmitry Peskov) who gets his or her name in the news. Because I enjoy it . . . and at my age, I think I’m entitled to a little fun.
So that’s it. If you were expecting an even 10 resolutions . . . well, nobody ever said life was fair.
The Blog About Everything … and Sometimes Nothing 