On December 1, 2022, a new law went into effect in Russia expanding the existing “foreign agents” legislation. Adopted in July of that year, “the law’s entry into force . . . expands the defintion of foreign agent to a point at which almost any person or entity, regardless of nationality or location, who engages in civic activism or even expresses opinions about Russian policies or officials’ conduct could be designated a foreign agent, so long as the authorities claim they are under ‘foreign influence.’ It also excludes ‘foreign agents’ from key aspects of civic life.” [Russia: New Restrictions for ‘Foreign Agents,’ Human Rights Watch, Dec. 1, 2022.] (Emphasis is mine — so much for having an opinion!)

Under the original law, in order for an individual to be charged as a “foreign agent,” they had to receive financial or material assistance from abroad. The new law, however, allows officials to include in the foreign agents registry anyone who is “under foreign influence.” The definition of “political activities” has also been broadened “to include a vague clause covering any activities that ‘contradict the national interests of the Russian Federation.’” [RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Dec. 1, 2022.]

It is not coincidental that these changes were made at a time when the Kremlin was — and still is — cracking down on all dissent and criticism over its “special military operation” (i.e., war) in Ukraine.

In just the past few months, several noted Russian citizens have been added to the list of those designated as foreign agents. One such — known by his pen name, Boris Akunin — is one of Russia’s most popular novelists, and is now on a register of “terrorists and extremists” because of his objections to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Akunin (whose real name is Grigory Chkhartishvili) is said by the oxymoronically-named Russian Ministry of Justice to have “opposed the special military operation in Ukraine,” and “disseminated false information aimed at creating a negative image” of Russia and its army. This was the Ministry’s interpretation of his statement, made on the day the Russian forces invaded Ukraine, that “Russia is ruled by a psychologically deranged dictator and worst of all, it obediently follows his paranoia.” Clearly, the truth hurts.

Boris Akunin — whose books have been banned in Russia — now resides in London. He has no idea whether he will ever be able to return home.

*. *. *

Mikhail Kasyanov, former Prime Minister of Russia during Vladimir Putin’s first presidential term (2000-2004), has been placed on the Justice Ministry’s “foreign agent” list for opposing the “special military operation” in Ukraine, and for being “a member of the Russian Anti-War Committee, an association whose activities are aimed at discrediting Russian foreign and domestic policy.” [Reuters/Europe, Nov. 25, 2023.]

Mr. Kasyanov left Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, and continues to live in exile.

*. *. *

Dmitry Muratov – Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2021) and former editor of the now-defunct independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, found himself added to the “foreign agent” list on September 1st of 2023, accused of “creating and disseminating work produced by foreign agents . . . [and using] foreign media to promote opinions that are aimed at forming a negative attitude towards Russia’s interior and foreign policy.” [Reuters/Europe, Sept. 1, 2023.]

In other words, speaking the truth.

Mr. Muratov was editor of the liberal Novaya Gazeta for more than two decades. The publication received funding from the late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned for having brought glasnost and perestroika to his country. But during the reign of Vladimir Putin (from 2000), six of the paper’s journalists and collaborators — including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya — have been killed.

*. *. *

Since the revocation of the paper’s license on September 5, 2022, other Novaya Gazeta journalists have fled to Latvia, where they now produce the new online publication, Novaya Gazeta Europe. Mr. Muratov, however, has chosen to remain in Russia, where, in June 2023, he joined the defense team of Oleg Orlov, founding member and co-chair of the human rights group Memorial, who was then on trial in Moscow charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces. [Reuters/Europe, Sept. 1, 2023.] Mr. Orlov, not surprisingly, was convicted of the charges on October 11th. What was surprising was that at sentencing he only received a fine of 150,000 rubles (approximately US$1,500), and no imprisonment. [Tanya Lokshina, Human Rights Watch, Oct. 11, 2023.]

But . . .

But Mr. Orlov, 70, continued to insist on his innocence and appealed the trial court’s ruling. Big mistake. Because at the hearing on the appeal, the prosecution — which had initially requested the lighter sentence in deference to Mr. Orlov’s age and health — now asked the court to sentence him to three years in prison instead, accusing him of “political and ideological hatred” of Russia. [Agence France-Presse, Dec. 14, 2023.]

*. *. *

Not yet in prison, these warriors on behalf of democracy are nevertheless HOSTAGES of a different sort: two being forced to live outside their homeland because of the probable future that would await them if they were to return; and two living with the fear of imminent arrest and imprisonment, every minute of every hour of every day. Simply for expressing an opinion.

Such is “justice” in Putin’s Russia.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/19/24

Not to be depressing (or bitchy), but with a steadily declining readership, and after a couple of days of zero views of my blog, I’ve finally come to the realization that I must be doing something wrong. (I know, I know . . . it took me long enough to figure it out.) Even my family and closest friends seem to have had enough of my choice of topics . . . mostly my observations on the daily world news . . . and frankly, I’m a bit weary of the same-old-same-old, myself. I feel the need for a completely different direction.

So, off I go on a new path. I’m an admitted “Midsomer Murders” junkie, and one old episode that I recently re-watched showed protagonist Tom Barnaby solving a series of murders (they’re always serial killers in Midsomer) through the use of the journals belonging to an elderly lady — not coincidentally, one of the victims.

I certainly don’t expect to be either a victim or the source of a solution to any sort of criminal activity — at least, I hope not. But it did make me think that sometimes the brief, random observations of one of life’s sidelined spectators can be interesting, amusing, or even enlightening.

That said, and in keeping with the whole brevity thing, here we go, into the first of my online journal entries . . .

*. *. *

January 12th: I dream a lot . . . mostly about dead people. No, I’m not like the kid in that movie — I don’t claim to actually see dead people. I know these are just dreams, but I guess I’m simply missing some of the people I’ve lost. Last night, though, it was about a dead person I’ve never met (thank God!); and how I even recalled his last name in my dream — Chikatilo — is a mystery. I Googled him today, and found that his full name was Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo. He was born in 1936 in the Soviet Union — a part of what is now Ukraine — and earned for himself the nickname of “The Butcher of Rostov” by raping, killing and mutilating at least 52 women and children in a 12-year spree from 1978 to 1990. In real life, he was captured by the Soviet authorities in 1990 and executed in 1994. But in my dream, I helped the FBI capture him here in the U.S., and I shoved him into a paper bag and stapled it shut (seriously!) to keep him secured until the FBI agents arrived to take him away. I was a true hero, though my participation had to be kept secret, which I recall was very frustrating. Stupid, inexplicable dream! If anyone has any expertise in dream analysis, I could use a little help here . . . though it could have had something to do with all those Midsomer Murders episodes. I can’t wait to fall asleep tonight.

*. *. *

Not much new in the news today — still fighting in Ukraine and Gaza; elections coming up here in the U.S., in Russia, Taiwan, and all over the place; Trump still shooting his mouth off; Congress still fighting over the freakin’ budget. Weather’s dismal too, so maybe it’s a good day to clean a bathroom, or do some laundry, or . . . yeah, take a nap. Much better idea. Just curl up in my comfy chair, pull up a furry throw blanket, and . . .

Wait a minute! Just looked over at the bookcase holding my set of the Great Books. Remember them? I bought mine — one volume every month for four years — way, way back in the ‘60s, for $25 per volume. That’s when $25 was a lot of money. They’re beautiful — leather-bound, gold-embossed, and replete with the literature and wisdom of the ages. I was going to read them when I retired, which was almost eight years ago. I really should start soon.

But first, that nap . . .

TTFN,
Brendochka
1/13/24

Your weekly reminder; never forget.

Their power resides in their words . . .

Please . . . bring them home!

Brendochka
1/22/24

We all know — as evidenced by this cover of Time Magazine from June 18, 2018 (just about halfway through Donald Trump’s term as President) — that this is a man who has always wanted to be King of the World, at the very least. He is not happy unless he is throwing his considerable weight around, telling everyone else what they may or may not do, firing them if they dare to disobey his orders. We’re used to his egomaniacal, narcissistic, dictatorial, vengeful nature.

But are we prepared for this?

Last Friday, January 5th, a video was shared on Donald Trump’s “Truth” social media account. It was titled, “God Made Trump.” In it, a narrator paraphrases the Bible, describing Trump as “a man who cares for the flock,” and “a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor [sic] forsake them.”

As reported by Samuel Benson of Deseret News, Jan. 8, 2024:

“The video begins as a parody of Paul Harvey’s famous ‘So God Made a Farmer’ speech, opening with a shot of the earth. A narrator says, ‘And on June 14, 1946, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker,” so God gave us Trump.’”

What do I think of this so far? I think I’m going to be sick . . . that’s what I think. But I’ll try to choke back the bile and carry on.

“The Trump video includes repeated religious references and quotations from the Bible. A narrator describes Trump as one who ‘follow(s) the path and remain(s) strong in faith.’ He paraphrases Psalm 140 to describe the ‘fake news media’ — with ‘their tongues as sharp as a serpents’ [sic] and ‘the poison of vipers … on their lips’ — and credits Trump with ‘finish(ing) a hard week’s work by attending church on Sunday.’” [Samuel Benson, Deseret News, Jan. 8, 2024.]

Okay, now it’s time to barf . . .

. . . or maybe laugh first, then barf!

The video is credited to a group known as Dilley Meme Team: “online content creators independent from the Trump campaign, though they work in close contact with it. The group — which calls itself Trump’s Online War Machine — has faced controversy for its vulgar and sexist content.” [Samuel Benson, Deseret News, Jan. 8, 2024.]

Yeah . . . I can see that: the Trump Campaign hooked up with something called the Dilley Meme Team. Definitely a match made in . . . well, not in Heaven, certainly, but in Trump’s parallel universe? Sure. Why not?

Reaction to the video has, not surprisingly, been varied and interesting. While many evangelical Christians are among Trump’s backers, Terry Amann, pastor of the Church of the Way in Des Moines, Iowa, found it distasteful, though he seems to lay the blame on the Dilley Meme Team, not directly on Trump himself. He said that the video “demeans Christianity, Trump and the people who made it. It says a lot about the people around Trump and their ‘wordly’ understanding of Christianity.”

It is not clear from the Deseret News article whether Trump had a hand in the making of the video, or ever approved it before its release. But he has since shared it with the world, and embraced its message that “God made him to lead the country.” [Business Insider, Jan. 6, 2024.]

Several of his former aides have said that Trump is not a person of faith, and that he privately mocks evangelical Christians and Latter-Day Saints. But to me, that is not the issue. What most definitely is clear is the hypocrisy of a person who has lied, cheated and bullied his way through life to reach his own self-serving goals, and then presents himself as the ultimate do-gooder, the savior of the American people, the one man who can “make America great again” . . . when in reality, he is nothing more than the 21st Century’s Elmer Gantry, hiding his true, hedonistic nature in order to sell himself as a pious preacher.

I thought snake-oil salesmen were extinct. I guess I was wrong. As long as you spray enough perfume on a pile of sheep dung, someone will be stupid enough to buy it.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/12/24

Well, in the case of these U.S. presidential front runners, I’d say:

“Gone to old men, every one.
”When will they ever learn?
“Oh, when will they ever learn?” **

**[Paraphrase of lyrics to that great old ‘60s folk song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”]

*. *. *

This is not a discussion of the respective political platforms or past performances of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Nor is it a generalization as to the declining abilities of individuals as they become “senior citizens” or “old-timers.” (I am, after all, of the Trump-Biden generation myself.) We each mature, and age, in our own way; and in the majority of cases, we adapt accordingly.

But we’re talking now about the President of the United States of America. The leader of what is still the most powerful nation in the world, on which so much of the rest of the free world relies for guidance and support. The person who must, no matter how miserable he or she may feel upon facing a new day, rise to the occasion and be able to give 100% to the most difficult, most demanding, most underpaid, and most — in my opinion — horrible job in the world.

And when you’re within spitting distance of the finish line of your eighth decade . . . and assuming you have any spit left . . . well, that’s pushing your luck a little outside the comfort zone. It’s time to kick back and relax a little . . . not to take on another four years (you hope) of mental and physical overload. You’ve worked hard all your life; you’ve accomplished amazing things; you’re financially secure. Relax . . . you’ve earned it. Become a revered elder statesman. Go play golf, do crossword puzzles, write your memoirs . . . whatever makes you happy.

Just don’t drag our country, kicking and screaming, across the finish line with you!

Because, believe it or not, this is not all about you. Not about you, Joe Biden. And not . . . although I know you’ll never accept it . . . about you either, Donald Trump. It is — now more than ever in history — about the future of democracy, and about the survival of the world itself. These are not easy, secure, idyllic times in which we live. The challenges to our leaders today are nearly incomprehensible. We need to know that the people we choose to lead us are up to the job.

We Americans need better choices.

That is not to say we should put our elder statesmen out to pasture. Look at the lives of Jimmy Carter, Henry Kissinger, George H.W. Bush. They had so much to contribute for so many years . . . until one day when they couldn’t. And what a blessing it is that they weren’t still in office, on one more power trip, when that moment came and they just “couldn’t” any longer.

Sadly, we all are born with an expiration date. We don’t know when it will be, and we can only hope for long, useful lives. We don’t know if, or when, we’ll be stricken by an illness or a disorder that will make it unsafe for us to bear the responsibility of leadership any longer. Would you take a trip around the world, leaving your infant son or daughter in the sole care of a wobbly great-grandparent? Not likely. Then, how can you entrust your entire country to that same great-grandparent?

I don’t think I can. And I’m not sure I could even vote this year if my choice were to be between two individuals — one just over, and the other rapidly approaching, age 80 — and already showing signs of slowing down, both mentally and physically.

*. *. *

I love my country. And I want her in safe hands. It’s time for Joe Biden and Donald Trump to step aside and take on the roles of presidential advisers to someone who at least stands a better chance of making it through the next four years.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/11/24

Many have tried to explain him; none have succeeded completely. He’s a Type A personality; workaholic; genius; lunatic; devoted family man; tyrant; visionary; dreamer; success. He is — as Sir Winston Churchill famously said about an entire country (Russia) — “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”

He is, of course, Elon Musk. So handsome. So brilliant. So enigmatic. So rich and powerful.

“So what?” Well, for one thing, so he can do just about anything he may dream up in his wildest fantasies . . . and some of them have been pretty wild. Yet he manages to accomplish most of them, or at least come close. Think about Tesla. And SpaceX. And taking over Twitter, firing 80% of its employees, changing the name to “X,” and . . . well, not every undertaking can be a roaring success, even for him.

Now he’s started Neuralink, which involves some sort of AI chip to be implanted in the brain so that our thoughts will be able to control such things as computers and prosthetic limbs. The goal sounds worthy, especially if you’re an amputee. But from my pessimistic point of view, I’m seeing too many opportunities for misuse by evil Dr. Frankensteins (or is that Drs. Frankenstein?) . . . Sorry . . . grammar is my life.

And there’s the one project that must surely be his favorite, in view of his lifelong fascination with flight and space travel: SpaceX — his plan to colonize Mars, working in concert with NASA. I’m sure I won’t live long enough to see that one become reality . . . and I’m not at all certain I want to!

But he must surely be more than a little annoyed at NASA’s current mission: an unmanned Vulcan Centaur rocket, on its way to the moon, as the result of a joint venture with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. And I see no mention of Elon Musk, SpaceX, or anyone associated with him being involved in any way. Surely, that must be an oversight. But no . . . the rocket, nicknamed “Peregrine” after the falcon that is the fastest-flying bird in the world, was developed by a company called Astrobotic Technology under a contract with NASA. And Elon Musk is not associated with Astrobotic . . . except that in 2011, SpaceX did enter into a contract to develop with Astrobotic a Falcon 9 launch of a lunar North Pole mission. However, the launch never happened, so that doesn’t count. But it sounds awfully similar.

Anyway, this current NASA/Astrobotic mission seems as though it would have been tailor-made for Musk and his mighty mental meanderings . . . especially in view of the rather odd assortment of “baggage” being carried moonward, which would certainly appeal to his unconventional way of thinking. But he’s been left out in the cold, for whatever reason, most likely thinking that he could have done a better job than those Astrobotic people.

*. *. *

But never mind Elon; I’m much more interested in the mission itself, and its very varied payload. There are, of course, several (actually, five) of NASA’s science experiments aboard . . . for which NASA paid Astrobotic an astronomical (pun intended) $108 million toward development of their metallic space bird. And there are fifteen more items from a variety of customers, including “additional science payloads from nations such as Mexico,” and “a robotics experiment from a private UK-based company and trinkets or mementos that the German shipping company DHL put together.” [Jackie Wattles, CNN, Jan. 8, 2024.]

Only one item, however, really caught my attention. Assuming that you will also see the significance of this forward-looking service to humanity, as well as the legitimacy of the Navajo Nation’s issue with it, I will quote the entire paragraph (again from the CNN article):

“Peregrine is also carrying human remains on behalf of two commercial space burial companies — Elysium Space and Celestis — a move that’s sparked opposition from Navajo Nation, the largest group of native Americans in the United States. The group contends that allowing the remains to touch down on the lunar surface would be an affront to many indigenous cultures, which regard the moon as sacred. Celestis offers to carry ashes to the moon for prices starting at more than $10,000, according to the company’s website.”

Actually, considering the cost of the average traditional funeral today, that price doesn’t sound so bad — especially since it includes some rather hefty transportation fees. And you don’t have to deal with choosing an appropriate burial plot, coffin, flowers, or an outfit for the dearly departed to wear on the journey to the hereafter. I’m assuming your choice of space burial company will be a one-stop shop that will provide a lovely urn and a private cubicle in a luxury columbarium (not to be confused with a condominium) in a choice neighborhood on the moon.

I also assume someone will have figured out the whole gravity issue. But that’s not my problem — let my family and friends worry about it when they come to pay their respects every year on the anniversary of my demise.

Just beam me up when the time comes, Scotty.

*. *. *

Update: “US Moon mission has no chance of soft lunar landing.” [BBC, Science & Environment, Jan. 9, 2024.]

Oh-oh! That was the headline of a report by Astrobotic telling the world that the Peregrine lunar lander has sustained a fuel leak. At 17:00 GMT (12:00 noon EST) on Tuesday, it was expected to run out of fuel in about 40 hours.

According to the report, “Peregrine ran into trouble almost as soon as it came off the top of its launch rocket on Monday. ‘Given the propellant leak, there is, unfortunately, no chance of a soft landing on the Moon,’ Astrobotic said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.”

Ah, the irony! That Elon Musk’s social media platform, now known simply as X, should have been the vehicle for the report of a failure that might have been prevented — though, of course, we’ll never know for sure — if Musk’s other company, SpaceX, had been involved in the project from the get-go. Don’t gloat, Elon . . . it’s not gentlemanly.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/10/24

Just a further word about Ms. Mouse. (I’m making the rash, and undoubtedly controversial, assumption that a female would be more likely to straighten up the house every night. If I’m mistaken, I apologize to all the neat-freak males out there.)

Experts are of the opinion that she . . . all right, or he . . . was building a nest, as rodents are inclined to do. Makes sense to me. I just thought you might enjoy this picture of the little gal . . . or fellow . . . whatever.

TTFN,
Brendochka
1/9/24

I managed to find a few notable headlines from an otherwise quiet first weekend of 2024:

1) That missing part that blew out the door of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon on Friday, has been found in the yard of “a teacher called Bob.” [BBC News, Jan. 7, 2024.] Glad it didn’t fly through a window of Bob’s house (or anyone else’s). Bob sounds like a modest guy who doesn’t seek publicity; but I do hope the Boeing folks, or the people at Alaska Airlines, find a way to show their appreciation. After all, he could simply have thrown that piece of junk into the trash. Good job, Bob from Portland . . . whoever you are.

So the next time you book a flight and you’re asked if you’d accept the “honor” of being seated next to the emergency exit . . . Yeah, you might think very carefully before you answer.

*. *. *

2) Noted actress Jodie Foster, now a lovely aged 61, finds a lot of Gen-Z actors “really annoying” because of their lack of any sort of work ethic. Well, imagine that — 20-somethings being annoying. Who woulda thunk it?

*. *. *

3) “Hundreds of lizards seized in Australia police bust.” [Hannah Ritchie, BBC News, Jan. 7, 2024.] Contrary to the wording of the headline, the lizards were not read their rights and hauled off to jail. Rather, police in Sydney, Australia have broken up a criminal syndicate planning to export — illegally — hundreds of native reptiles from Australia to Hong Kong. The creepy-crawlies, which included 257 lizards and three snakes, apparently had a market value of A$1.2 Million (US$805,000), and are much sought-after in Hong Kong, which does a huge trade in all sorts of exotic animals. So, in addition to the whole “we-now-belong-to-China” thing, I have yet another reason not to travel to Hong Kong: not a big fan of waking up to find someone’s alligator bag mysteriously inching across the foot of my bed. But happily, the contraband critters have now been treated for some health issues apparently resulting from neglect while in captivity, and returned to the wild where they may slither back into the primal ooze from which they originated and live happily into the third millennium.

*. *. *

4) And finally, on a more adorable note (unless you’re like my relative who once jumped up onto the dining room table when told there was a little field mouse in the house):

A postman and wildlife photographer in one of those unpronounceable locations in Wales, one Rodney Holbrook, was puzzled when he began noticing each day that things he had left lying around on his workbench the night before had mysteriously been tidied up. So he set up a night vision camera, and what he discovered in the morning was just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen: a mouse, apparently living with a severe case of OCD, picking up one item at a time and placing it in a box that was sitting on the workbench . . . just scurrying tirelessly back and forth, back and forth, until the job was done. Perhaps it was influenced by too many viewings of the cartoon version of Cinderella? I don’t know the answer, but I wouldn’t mind finding a housekeeper with that kind of energy. (Check out the video on the link below.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67902966

*. *. *

And that, good readers, is my brief report for today. I wish every day could be as devoid of bad news . . . but I’m sure there will be plenty of that tomorrow.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/9/24

As soon as I saw Pyotr Kazlov’s headline in The Moscow Times (Oct. 4, 2023) . . .

“Kremlin Readying Putin’s 2024 Campaign Reveal at Economic Expo”

. . . I knew — because I had been there in 1988 — exactly what “Economic Expo” he meant: VDNKh, the acronym for Vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva — Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy — a site within the Ostankino region on the outer limits of the City of Moscow. Originally named “City of Exhibitions,” it was projected to be opened in 1937. Due to numerous delays, however, it was only opened to the public in October of 1939. In 1941, it was closed for the duration of World War II, but was again delayed and not reopened until 1954, still as a primarily agricultural exhibition.

In 1959, it received its second name of “Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy,” and by 1989, it housed 82 pavilions within an exhibition area of 700,000 square meters — some 173 acres. Each pavilion — including the 1939 “regions” — was dedicated to a particular industry or field: Engineering, Space, Industrial, Atomic Energy, etc. Each year during Soviet times, VDNKh hosted national and international exhibitions, as well as conferences, seminars and meetings of scientists and industry professionals.

In 1992, during Boris Yeltsin’s presidency, it became known as the “All-Russian Exhibition Center” (Russian acronym: VVTs), which lasted until 2014, when Vladimir Putin returned it to its Soviet-era identity of VDNKh — the name which remains in place to this day. It now occupies 2,375,000 square meters, or nearly 600 acres, of choice Moscow real estate.

*. *. *

And this massive homage to Soviet grandeur and achievement is where Vladimir Putin chose to make the official announcement of his intention to “campaign” for an unprecedented fifth term as president. I put “campaign” in quotes because the whole world knows he’s a shoo-in. It’s all theater . . . a performance meticulously choreographed to show the world what a free and democratic nation Russia has become.

(It’s okay to laugh here . . . I’ll wait.)

*. *. *

But everything Putin does has special significance to him . . . although frequently not obvious to us common folk. And that includes his choice of location for his reveal party. On the surface, VDNKh seems a lovely site, where large crowds can gather to celebrate the occasion, take in a few of the exhibitions, and perhaps have a little lunch — a sort of Russian “Trump Centre.” But there are other wide open spaces nearer the center of the city, more convenient to the masses, like Red Square; VDNKh is a substantial trek from the Kremlin, even by Metro.

But look at VDNKh’s historic significance. Built during Josef Stalin’s reign; now marking 85 years of incomparable achievements of “our glorious motherland”; and even being returned to its original Soviet-era name at the behest of Vladimir Putin himself . . . well, what better backdrop for the man who strives to be Stalin’s rightful heir and return his country and its people to their deserved, prominent position as the world’s foremost evildoers? It’s a perfect choice.

I can already hear the immortal strains of The Internationale ringing in my ears.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/8/24

Your weekly reminder, lest we forget.

Their power resides in their words . . .

Please . . . bring them home!

Brendochka
1/8/24