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

Robert Frost said it; we’ve all thought it at one time or another; and there is no way I can improve on it:

“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/7/26

In all fairness, Melania Trump does not claim to be a stand-up comedian. In fact, everything about her demeanor screams exactly the opposite — a serious, straight-faced, often angry-looking woman, who is in a position in which she is occasionally required to speak in public.

And on those occasions, as she struggles to enunciate the words written for her by the White House speech writers, she tries . . . she really tries . . . to smile from time to time, and to appear, if not genuinely warm, at least relatable.

But, although she may once have been a pretty good fashion model, she is no orator. Her command of the English language, even after 30 years in the United States, is not the best; and that makes her attempts at humor fall flat. Except when she’s not trying. Then she can be — albeit unintentionally — downright hilarious.

Case in point: Yesterday’s address to military mothers at the White House in advance of Mother’s Day. After a few introductions, she began by saying:

“I often think about the brave people who make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.“ [Whitehouse.gov, May 6, 2026.]

So far, so good.

Then she went on to talk about the grief of those who have lost family members in service to their country, which was appropriate. And she tossed in some words about the unique bond between a mother and her children. But maybe she should have stopped there, instead of adding:

“This is a time of military conflict for America. And whereby [sic] we honor our selfless and valiant Service members regularly, today is the day we hold their mothers in the highest regard . . . praying for a safe return so their family can become whole once again.” [Id.]

Did she (and her speech writers) think that her audience are unaware of the fact that their sons, husbands and brothers are in harm’s way because of her husband’s illegal and unnecessary war?

The whole speech was a bit schmaltzy, but it was intended to be; that is what passes for sincerity in this administration. But finally she came to the end, which is where it all went terribly wrong:

“I pray you find enduring strength as your loved one serves in defense of our freedom. Most know my husband as the strong Commander in Chief, but his empathy transcends the role and shapes a caring leader who constantly remembers each and every American soldier is someone’s child. Distinguished guests, please join me with a warm welcome for our President, Donald J. Trump.” [Id.]

According to those who were there — and you can see it on the videos — when she uttered the word “empathy,” the laughter from the crowd was audible. Trump himself grinned and shrugged in what looked like an attempt at modesty, and Melania herself broke into a genuine smile as she turned to look at him.

In what must have been an agonizingly long afternoon for the women being honored, that moment of comic relief must have made it all seem worthwhile. I know I would have enjoyed it. In fact, I had a whale of a good time just watching it on YouTube.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/7/26

Act One: Vladimir Putin demands a two-day ceasefire for May 8-9 in order to be able to throw his annual Victory Day Parade on the 9th without having to worry about possible drone strikes from Ukraine. His Defense Ministry even warns of “a massive retaliatory strike . . . on the center of Kyiv” in the event of an attack on the parade. [RFE/RL, May 4, 2026.]

Act Two: Volodymyr Zelensky counters with a proposal for a ceasefire beginning even earlier — midnight on May 6th. Putin does not respond.

Act Three: On May 6th, Vladimir Putin’s military launches scores of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, including a drone hit on a kindergarten in Sumy. More than 20 deaths are reported across the country as a result of the strikes. [RFE/RL, May 6, 2026.]

Act Four: Ukraine responds with a strike on a Russian weapons factory that manufactures navigational systems for missiles, resulting in a report of two deaths.

Act Five: ???

*. *. *

Once again, Putin has ignored, and violated, the offer of a ceasefire from Zelensky — despite having been the first to propose it. Does he still expect his original demand to be honored?

Ukraine’s counter-offensive actions on Russian territory have been focused on military and strategic targets, such as oil refineries and weapons factories; they have been careful to avoid, to the extent possible, civilian areas and infrastructure. It is not likely that they would take aim at a patriotic celebration that annually draws thousands of civilian spectators.

So why was Putin determined to prevent an event that had not actually been threatened? Is it simply his ingrained paranoia? Was he assuming that Zelensky could be capable of the sort of thing he himself has been known to do in the past?

Or might he be thinking of using the opportunity to create an incident — even a minor one — that could then be blamed on Ukraine as an excuse to “retaliate” and accelerate the ongoing war?

Hopefully not. But all we can do now is hope for the best.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/6/26

All of the old mystery writers — Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, J.B. Fletcher (okay, she herself was fictitious, but you had to love her) — had a way of ensuring that, despite a good bit of mayhem along the way, the good guys always triumphed in the end.

They all seemed to adhere to the belief — perhaps too optimistically — that “what goes around comes around,” “you reap what you sow,” and the ever-popular “karma is a bitch.” Perhaps it was best summed up in the words of the venerable Sherlock Holmes:

“Violence does, in truth recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.”

– Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, #3)”

If only real life were as simple and as fair as that. But these days, I’m afraid there wouldn’t be a pit deep enough for all of the schemers.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/6/26