Today I mailed yet another birthday card to one of my oldest friends, who has been in my life since 10th grade . . . and that is a very long time indeed. And I marveled, not for the first time, at the longevity of my relationships with just a handful of people, and how lucky I feel that we found each other.

People come and go throughout our lives, and it’s hard to pinpoint what makes some so special that they never leave, even when life carries us in different directions. Some of my favorite people are those with whom I seemed at first to have nothing in common; yet when we met, something just clicked, filling a void that I didn’t even know existed. And I am forever grateful that it did.

I like this explanation of the phenomenon we call “friendship,” written by novelist, screenwriter, editor and columnist Jay McInerney:

“The capacity for friendship is God’s way of apologizing for our families.”

– Jay McInerney, “The Last of the Savages”

I can relate to that.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/11/26

Last night was one of those stare-at-the-ceiling-until-dawn nights, when my mind went wandering in 100 different directions and I dozed fitfully until the sun came up and I was finally able to sleep soundly for a few hours.

Yes, I know . . . I’m probably part bat. Or maybe just a little batty. But tell it to my body clock.

In any event, one of the weird thoughts that cycled through my so-called brain — or perhaps it was a dream during one of the brief periods of sleep — had to do with Jeffrey Epstein’s Island, known as Little Saint James, and what has happened to it since his death.

It is described as a 70- to 78-acre private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands southeast of St. Thomas. It is said to feature a main compound, multiple villas, a private dock, a helipad, a library, and some sort of “striped temple-like structure,” according to Google’s AI Overview. And it seems to be sitting there, waiting to be brought back to life . . . hopefully as something lovely and legal, and not a reincarnation of its former self.

In fact, Epstein’s compound consisted of two islands. And in May of 2023, billionaire investor Stephen Deckoff purchased both of them for a total of about $60 million for the announced purpose of developing them as a 25-room “world-class destination” luxury resort.

But, as of a few months ago, it was reported that permitting delays have stalled development. So I had an idea.

What if Donald Trump, who will be out of work in about 32 months at the outside (but who’s counting?), were to make Deckoff an offer he couldn’t refuse — say, $240 million, or a nice 300% profit — for the properties to be turned into . . .

HIS OWN COUNTRY!

Picture it: He could name it Trumplandia, or whatever he wanted to. It would have its own flag, emblazoned with the Trump Family crest; its own currency, with his face on it; its own laws; the biggest, most beautiful palace with the biggest, most beautiful ballroom in the whole world; and all of the tacky golden statues he could find space for.

His word would be law. There would be no bothersome constitution, no legislature, no courts, and no “fake news” media. He could declare polygamy legal, and immigration verboten.

He could populate Trumplandia exclusively with White, Christian, conservative billionaires . . . except, of course, for the servants, who would live in dormitories on the second island, receive minimum wage, and be required to shop in the overpriced Trump-Lutnick Market and pay for their own medical care at the Trump-Kennedy Walk-In Clinic and Mortuary.

And he could have himself crowned King for Life, and awarded the First Annual Trump Peace Prize.

Truly a malignant narcissist’s wet dream come true.

Then, when Trumplandia had been recognized by the world as a sovereign nation, all of the other nations would join together, declare war on it, and form the world’s biggest, most beautiful blockade around the islands, rendering them inaccessible by air or sea . . . along with a total communications blackout. Only humanitarian aid — essential food, water and medicines dropped from helicopters — would be allowed in; and any attempts at escape would be treated as suspected drug runners and blown out of the water.

And Donald Trump, and all of his minions — just like all of the ogres in all of the fairy tales ever written — would never be heard from again.

And the rest of the world would live happily ever after.

THE END

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/11/26

Vladimir Putin’s somewhat diminished Victory Day Parade went off without a hitch yesterday . . . though the promised ceasefire may not have been a complete success.

Ukraine’s military reported that Russian forces had launched a missile and dozens of drones overnight; and Moscow claimed that Kyiv had broken the agreement, though without any reports of incidents affecting the parade. We’ll see if the three-day ceasefire proposed by Putin continues to hold.

In the meantime, Putin had his opportunity to tout the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II — forgetting, as always, to mention the contributions and sacrifices of Western Europe and the United States. And, in what appeared to be another memory lapse, he attempted to tie that defensive war to the current Russian offensive in Ukraine, which he himself started in 2022, offering this paean to Russian valor:

“The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today. They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward . . . I firmly believe that our cause is just.” [RFE/RL, May 9, 2026.]

When you’re out of excuses for failure, it seems most convenient just to blame your victim. Delusional . . . but convenient.

Putin also spoke with reporters concerning the Ukraine conflict, unexpectedly saying, “I think that the matter is coming to an end.” Yet he stressed that he would not meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky until a final peace deal has been agreed. [Id.]

He added that, while he believes that the United States is “sincere” in its efforts to stop the war in Ukraine, it is “above all, a matter for Russia and Ukraine.” [Id.]

That statement followed remarks earlier in the day by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said on state television:

“It is understandable that the American side is in a hurry. But the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is far too complex, and reaching a peace agreement is a very long way with complex details.” [Id.]

So much for Donald Trump’s repeated assurances that Putin really, honestly wants peace. Perhaps if he had enlisted serious, experienced negotiators instead of playing into Putin’s hands by sending his son-in-law and that other real estate guy . . .

Or maybe that was the whole point.

At any rate, with no indication on Putin’s part of a willingness to compromise, his refusal to meet directly with Zelensky, and an indication that U.S. intervention is less than helpful, it looks as though Ukraine is facing another long, hot summer of fighting, suffering, and deaths in a conflict that already has lasted longer than the Soviet Union’s involvement in World War II.

What a waste!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/10/26

On Friday I read a Facebook post by Vladimir Kara-Murza — a noted Russian-British journalist, author, political activist, and himself a former political prisoner in one of Vladimir Putin’s penal colonies — concerning a letter he received from a current Putin hostage, one Lev Schlossberg.

I had not heard of Schlossberg previously; perhaps his case was not as widely publicized as some of the others. He is a Russian opposition politician, journalist, historian, and human-rights activist who has been targeted by the Putin regime for his outspokenness, earning him the official moniker of “foreign agent” — a serious crime in today’s Russia that bears overtones of the Cold War era.

Already having been sentenced to a lenient 420 hours of community service on the original “foreign agent” charge, he then was further charged and tried in late 2025 on an additional accusation of “discrediting” the Russian military, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. And then a third count was added, accusing him of spreading “false information” about the Russian military. [The Moscow Times, December 5, 2025.]

I have found no updated information on Schlossberg’s current legal status. But Kara-Murza reports that he is incarcerated in the Pskov Castle Prison, close to the border of Estonia, where he continues to exhibit “an amazing inner light and unchanging human dignity.” [Vladimir Kara-Murza, Facebook, May 8, 2026.]

As cited by Mr. Kara-Murza, Mr Schlossberg’s letter includes the following:

“Yes, the stakes are as high as ever, I can see and understand that. Yes, I in particular and we in general are opposed by people who have atrophic reflex of humanity. They have no frames, no limits, for them there is absolutely nothing impossible, nothing unacceptable. They are capable of anything. But that doesn’t mean that we should just leave our spot. I can see it so.” [Id.] *

* Mr. Schlossberg’s letter was apparently translated into English from the original Russian, which I haven’t seen. But I believe that what is meant by “leave our spot” is to desert one’s place or position — in this case, their political stance. If I am mistaken in my interpretation, my apologies to Messrs. Schlossberg and Kara-Murza.

*. *. *

Today Lev Schlossberg’s name is added to our roster of hostages, along with the thousands of other political prisoners incarcerated in Russia and elsewhere, still awaiting our help.

And once again, here is the list of those known, which is still only a fraction of the total:

Prisoners of War:

The 20,000+ 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:

Pavel “Pasha” Talankin
Mikita Losik
Yulia Navalnaya
Countless Journalists and Other Dissidents

Political Prisoners:

In Afghanistan:

Mahmoud Habibi (Afghan-American)
Paul Overby (American, missing since 2018)

In Azerbaijan:

The “Azerbaijan 7”:
— Farid Mehralizada
— Ulvi Hasanli
— Sevinj Abbasova (Vagifqiai)
— Mahammad Kekalov
— Hafiz Babali
— Nargiz Absalamova
— Elnara Gasimova

In Belarus:

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)
Aleksandr Andreyev
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)
Lev Schlossberg
Sofiane Sehili (French)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Grigory Skvortsov
Eugene Spector (American)
Joseph Tater (American, disappeared)
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland (American)

You have not been, and will not be, forgotten.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/10/26

In case you hadn’t noticed, we are living in hard and dangerous times.

There have always been dishonest people, and people driven to dishonesty by desperation. But today’s cyber world has opened endless new doors for those looking for an easy dollar . . . or more.

Twice in my lifetime, I was nearly victimized by purse snatchers — once in Washington, D.C., and once in St. Petersburg, Russia. And twice I was able to foil their attempts.

But this week was my first experience with cyber crime.

Yesterday, I received a text notice from my bank that there had been a suspicious transaction on my credit card: a $1,000 charge by META. It was definitely not legitimate, and I responded accordingly. Then I went online to my account and saw a number of attempted charges, allegedly by META and Facebook, for tiny amounts — $3.50, 39 cents, etc. But my bank was on top of it, so I simply kept an eye on my accounts throughout the day.

This morning I received yet another notice of suspicious activity, and a statement that my card was being blocked for my protection. I called the number given, spoke to a very helpful gentleman at the bank who verified all of my information, and was told that a new card would be sent to me on Monday via Federal Express.

Done and done . . . more or less. I still have to deal with changing my credit card information with several online vendors once my new card arrives; but that is nothing compared to the hell that some people have experienced when their private information has been hacked.

I was lucky. My bank — which I will not name for security reasons, but to whom I am very grateful — was on the ball. Their security caught the anomaly and took appropriate measures. But why do we, the law-abiding public, have to deal with this crap? Aren’t our lives complicated enough?

Clearly, those attempted charges were not instigated by META or Facebook, but by some clever little hacker sitting at a laptop in a basement, using their considerable skills for nefarious purposes. Such is the world we live in.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the conveniences of modern technology; being able to conduct my personal business from the comfort of my home, having research at my fingertips, keeping in touch with my friends . . . all of these are especially important at my age. But there is clearly a downside to having our personal information accessible to anyone with a computer and a diabolical mind.

And don’t even get me started on the evils of Artificial Intelligence!

*. *. *

So, that was how my week ended. I wanted to share it with the world as a cautionary tale, and also in case the anonymous perpetrator — who will probably never be identified — is reading this. If you are, I have just two things to say to you:

First, you should probably scratch me from your list of potential victims — I don’t have enough money to be of much use to you; and

Second, there are a lot of good jobs out there for people with your tech skills. You should try it; it’s really satisfying to know, at the end of the day, that you’ve done something worthwhile with your time, and actually earned your money. Also, working with others might improve your social skills.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/9/26

In the midst of preparing to de-clutter and downsize, I have begun to regret having collected so many “treasures” over the decades — some with great sentimental value, representing special occasions, gifts from family and friends, my years of travel, etc.; but many that were bought just because they were pretty, or I thought they might be useful, or I might need an extra one some day. And now most of them are just “stuff,” collecting dust on tabletops and bookshelves, or packed away in boxes because I don’t know what to do with them.

And I find myself wishing I had become familiar with the writings of the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca much sooner — before I began amassing the books, and dishes, and tchotchkes. Even in that long-ago age before online shopping, he was wise to the inherent dangers of acquisitiveness, saying this:

“Until we have begun to go without them, we fail to realize how unnecessary many things are. We’ve been using them not because we needed them but because we had them.”

– Seneca, “Letters from a Stoic”

It turns out that there is much to be said for simplicity and minimalism. If only I had realized it sooner.

Oh, well . . . Anyone need a good set of china?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/9/26

Ever since the first reported sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO) and its alleged crash in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, people have been fascinated by the prospect of space aliens walking among us, and conspiracy theorists have warned of a government cover-up of massive proportions.

Whether you are a believer (also known as a UFOlogist), a non-believer, or a somewhat open-minded skeptic, it is a subject worth exploring as we delve farther and farther into space exploration, and people like Elon Musk rhapsodize about colonizing Mars.

Personally, I fall into the skeptical-but-curious category. Lacking hard evidence of extraterrestrial life, and based on what scientists and astronauts have thus far found (or not found) within the realm they’ve been able to explore, I remain unconvinced that we have actually been contacted by space aliens.

On the other hand, whether they exist at all is a separate question. Our galaxy is only one of an estimated two trillion in the Universe. Isn’t it presumptuous of us to insist that our planet is the only one in our galaxy — and in all of the other galaxies — to be inhabited by sentient life forms?

And if there has been no evidence of such life, why has the U.S. government maintained secrecy for nearly 80 years about their ongoing investigations of UFOs (now referred to as UAP’s, or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena)?

But, more to the point, why has the Pentagon, at the direction of Donald Trump, suddenly released what it calls “never-before-seen files” on its investigations of reported sightings spanning decades? In a post on X, the Defense Department said:

“The American people can now access the federal government’s declassified UAP files instantly. The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place — no clearance required” . . . and that the DoD will be “releasing new materials on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified, with tranches posted every few weeks.” [Kaanita Iyer, Michael Williams and Marshall Cohen, CNN, May 8, 2026.]

But before you get too excited, there is also a disclaimer on the Pentagon website stating that the “descriptive and estimative language” in the military memos reflect the “subjective interpretation” of the person who wrote the report and therefore “should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication” of actual events. [Id.]

So whom, and what, are we supposed to believe? If this is “estimative” and “subjective” information, where is the objective data? And these are identified as the “declassified” files . . . so does that mean there are still classified ones we’re not being shown? Who is making the selection of files to be included in the publicly-available data base?

In other words, is this being presented as another “full disclosure” on the same order as the Epstein Files?

Or, more ominously, is this latest Trump-Hegseth Production another red herring to further distract the American people from the Epstein Files altogether?

And if that doesn’t work, what’s next? A clone of the Loch Ness Monster swimming up the Potomac toward Washington? Bigfoot spotted in Chicago’s Loop? Harry Potter seen boarding the Hogwarts Express at Grand Central Station?

I haven’t accessed the new Pentagon website, nor do I plan to. I’ll just wait for a little green man to show up at my front door declaring that he comes in peace. Then I’ll believe.

And in the meantime, I don’t intend to forget about the other three million Epstein Files. I’m not that easily distracted.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/9/26

On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine, claiming that he was “rescuing” Russian-speaking separatists from their so-called “Nazi” Ukrainian regime . . . a government in fact led by Jewish President Volodymyr Zelensky. No excuse could have been more ludicrous, or more transparent, for what was in fact a land grab.

Putin predicted that his troops would be welcomed with open arms in the eastern Ukraine region known as the Donbas, and that the territory would be under Russian control in a matter of days, or weeks at the outside. He was wrong. Ukraine has fought back with unexpected ferocity and skill, and has held the larger Russian forces at bay for more than four years. Their newly-developed drone technology has even allowed them to counter-attack as far as Moscow itself, causing Putin to lose face among the Russian populace, and frequently to take shelter in unidentified bunkers in fear for his life.

But tomorrow, May 9th, is the anniversary of Victory Day in Russia — a celebration of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. And the traditional parade must go on . . . albeit on a much smaller scale this year, without the usual display of military tanks and missiles (most of which are probably busy at the front in any event).

And security is tight, including a blackout of Internet service. The usual cadre of visiting dignitaries is also missing this year, with only a few staunch supporters expected, including presumptive President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus and Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia.

Putin took the further precaution of declaring a two-day ceasefire with Ukraine for May 8-9, to which Zelensky responded by offering an even longer period of quiet, beginning on May 6th. But Putin not only disregarded that offer by launching deadly attacks throughout Ukraine on the 5th and 6th; he also broke his own truce today by launching as many as 67 drone attacks overnight on May 7th. He even warned of devastating strikes on the capital city of Kyiv if Ukraine were to attempt a disruption of the celebration of Russia’s “sacred holiday” — going so far as to warn foreign diplomats that they might want to evacuate their embassies.

This caused me (and doubtless others) to worry that, should some lone hothead decide to attempt an act of domestic terrorism in Moscow tomorrow, it might be used by Putin as an excuse to blame Ukraine and trigger retaliatory measures. Let’s hope not.

Then today, Donald Trump posted this surprise announcement on Truth Social:

“I am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine. The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, i n Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II. . . .

“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought war.

“Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day.” [RFE/RL, May 8, 2026.]

From Ukraine, President Zelensky confirmed his agreement, saying:

“I hereby decree: to permit the holding of a parade in the city of Moscow (Russian Federation) on May 9, 2026 . . .” adding that “the territorial sector of Red Square shall be excluded” from any use of Ukrainian weapons. [Id.]

This was followed by a statement from Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov that Russia has agreed to the three-day ceasefire, and to an exchange of prisoners in the near future.

*. *. *

As I write this, it is the middle of the night in Moscow, with the festivities scheduled to begin in just a few hours. I sincerely believe that President Zelensky will keep his word, and that peace will reign for a day of commemoration of a truly historic event.

What will happen after the crowds have dispersed is another matter. Will Putin honor his pledge to withhold further strikes for another two days? We shall see.

I also have to wonder how it is that Donald Trump is seemingly able to solve everyone’s problems but his own. But that is a conundrum of an entirely different sort.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/8/26

We’ve all had those days; but when they happen, we feel as though we must surely be more miserable than anyone, anywhere in the world, under any circumstances, has ever been.

Yesterday was one of those days, for no particular reason; and then I found that no less a personage than Charles Darwin — the naturalist and geologist who taught the world about evolution — was no different than I am. Among his writings was this:

“But I am very poorly today & very stupid & I hate everybody and everything. One lives only to make blunders.”

– Charles Darwin, “The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Volume 9: 1861”

Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)

Darwin must have been having a very bad day indeed. But he lived to see another, and most likely better, day — in fact, 21 more years of them.

And so, I trust, will I.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/8/26

Shakespeare, through the words of his ill-fated protagonist Macbeth, said it best:

“ . . . it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.“

The “It” of which Macbeth spoke was Life itself. But recently we have come to realize its significance to acts of War . . . and to the leaders who start them.

The parallel between Vladimir Putin’s seemingly endless war against Ukraine and Donald Trump’s much newer incursion into Iran is strikingly similar insofar as the effect on the standing of the two presidents in their respective countries is concerned.

Regardless of his denials, Trump’s polling numbers continue to sink lower and lower, as though being sucked into quicksand. In an effort to distract from his other woes — inflation, rampant corruption, the Epstein files, etc. — he broke yet another campaign promise: the one in which he vowed that this country would never, under his leadership, become mired in another foreign war.

And now he is facing a surge of calls for impeachment, or for his removal by imposition of the 25th Amendment of the Constitution. There is even suspicion that some of his own administration members may be plotting his removal for their own nefarious purposes. It is beginning to sound more like a Russian-style palace intrigue than the workings of a 250-year-old democracy.

And speaking of Russian palace intrigues . . .

In Moscow, Vladimir Putin has been uncharacteristically absent from public view, rumored to be hidden away in a secret bunker — fearing, not only drone strikes from Ukraine, but also a possible internal uprising. Russian history is rife with cabals and coups, and its leaders are notorious for their paranoia. But is it paranoia if the threat is real?

In addition to scaling down this year’s Victory Day celebration in honor of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, Putin has been facing increased outspoken opposition from both the elite and ordinary citizens. Like Trump, he is also experiencing a sharp drop in his approval ratings, for several reasons: rampant inflation, mounting attacks on the independent media, interruptions in Internet service . . . and an increasingly unpopular war.

There are even signs of dissension among the various factions of his government, including his administration, the military, and the security services. According to Tatyana Stanovaya, founder of the analysis firm R. Politik:

“For the first time in years of war, there may be a shift. . . . Until recently, many assumed that Putin had a plan, even if it was simply to keep the war going. Now there are growing doubts as to whether such a plan exists. There are growing sentiments in Russia that the current system of governance is becoming too damaging and increasingly self-defeating. Tolerance for the status quo is eroding, while Putin appears either unable or unwilling to rethink his policy.” [Steve Gutterman, RFE/RL, May 7, 2026.]

And Aleksandr Baunov of the Berlin-based Carnegie Research Russia Eurasia Center wrote:

“The entire state apparatus, the media, the government, parliament, the church, and the intelligence agencies are still trying to solve the same problem: hide Putin’s mistake of 2022, but it’s getting worse. Putin is losing his magic. Power remains undivided in his hands, but the magic of power is fading.” [Id.]

In addition, author and analyst Mark Galeotti wrote in iPaper last month:

“None of this can be taken to herald the imminent end of Putin’s rule. Instead, it demonstrates how greater and greater effort needs to be spent on maintaining the status quo, and one of its greatest assets — Putin’s own personal authority — is in decline.”

*. *. *

Two autocrats — Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump — on opposite sides of the world, but of such similar purpose and methods, now facing nearly identical crises. It’s not coincidence; it’s simply what happens to all tyrants sooner or later.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/8/26