Her name is Chenyue Mao; she is a U.S. citizen who has worked for Wells Fargo Bank for 13 years, and is currently managing director of one of the bank’s branches in China. According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ms. Mao has been blocked from leaving the country on allegations of her being “involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law enforcement authorities and . . . subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law.” [Gavin Butler, BBC News, July 21, 2025.]

In China, such ambiguous charges could relate to anything from murder or espionage to jaywalking or reading an unapproved publication.

Typically, no further details were forthcoming from the Chinese government, and it isn’t clear whether Ms. Mao is incarcerated, under house arrest, or has merely had her passport confiscated. Wells Fargo has said only that it is “working through the appropriate channels” to secure her return, but similarly did not offer any additional information — if indeed they had any. In light of the present circumstances, Wells Fargo has suspended all travel to China by its personnel.

The U.S. Embassy in Shanghai has told BBC News:

“We track these cases closely, and have raised our concern with Chinese authorities about the impact these arbitrary exit bans have on our bilateral relations and urged them to immediately allow impacted US citizens to return home. The Chinese government has, for many years, imposed exit bans on US citizens and other foreign nationals in China, often without a clear and transparent judicial process for resolution.” [Id.]

The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun — addressing a press briefing in Beijing on Monday — stated that “. . . everyone in China, whether they are Chinese or foreigners, must abide by Chinese laws . . . [and that Ms. Mao] has the obligation to cooperate with the investigation.” [Id.]

And then, presumably turning on the charm, he added:

“China will, as always, welcome people from all countries to visit China for tourism and business.” [Id.]

*. *. *

How nice of them. But — as much as I’ve always wanted to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army at Xi’an, and a panda sanctuary — I think I’ll pass on that invitation for now.

And until Ms. Mao’s predicament is resolved and she is allowed to return home, I will add a new section to our hostage list for those detained in China, leading off with a single name.

I hope she won’t be there for long.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/22/25

They have a somewhat symbiotic relationship: the leader of one of the world’s most powerful autocracies and the presumptive president (if you believe the “official” results of the last election) of one of its much smaller neighbors.

Belarus, ruled by the tyrannical Aleksandr Lukashenko, relies on Russia both militarily and economically; while Russia’s Vladimir Putin is happy to have a staging ground on Ukraine’s northern border from which to launch some of his invasions, and where his wounded troops and repatriated POWs can be evacuated for treatment.

Otherwise, Lukashenko has kept his nose out of Putin’s war; no Belarusian troops have been sent to fight in Ukraine. But recently-revealed figures show that since 2022, when Putin launched his initial foray into Ukrainian territory, Belarus’ government spending on military-related items has grown more than 2-1/2 times. [RFE/RL, July 19, 2025.]

According to public budget and procurement documents, the country’s 2025 budget for all defense spending now totals around US$1.6 billion, or some 2% of the country’s GDP — up from US$694 million, or 0.95% of GDP, in 2022. Included in the purchases are advanced Sukhoi Su-30SM2 multirole fighter jets, Mi-35M attack helicopters, and Volat V-2 armored personnel carriers, in addition to hundreds of attack drones. [Id.]

All of this has happened at a time when Belarus is already facing severe economic strain. Exports of oil and oil-related products are down, and the country’s once-thriving tech industry has been decimated as a result of repressive policies. Social welfare spending, on the other hand, has increased due to Belarus’ aging population.

Belarusian economist Alis Ryzhichenka says that:

“As a percentage of budget expenditures, the most goes to social policies. . . . [But now] defense is catching up with this part of expenditures. And given that budget operates on a deficit, then there’s nowhere you can increase. We need to reduce the social security, or something else, in order to add to the defense budget.” [Id.]

So who is the bogeyman that has Lukashenko so worried? According to Uladzimer Zhyhar, an activist with BYPOL, a group comprised of former Belarusian police and law enforcement officers, “Lukashenko’s system fully relies on the Kremlin for its defense.” [Id.]

But Ivan Kirichevskiy, a military analyst with the Ukraine-based online magazine Defense Express, has said:

“Paradoxically, the level of Belarus’s military spending suggests that despite flirting with with Putin, Lukashenko does not particularly … expect that the Russian army will come and defend him, in case of a mythical NATO aggression. I would even say that the Belarusian army now has only one enemy: the Russian army.” [Id.]

So which is it? Does Lukashenko really believe Putin’s propaganda that they are in danger from attack by nearby NATO countries? Or is he finally coming to the realization that his friend and protector, Vladimir Putin, can never be trusted . . . and that Belarus might, in the not-so-distant future, meet the same fate as Ukraine?

Whatever his reasoning, it’s just one more headache for Europe.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/22/25

Well, that didn’t take long. Volodymyr Zelensky offers peace talks on Saturday; and Vladimir Putin launches massive, widespread, deadly strikes on civilian targets overnight on Sunday.

And there you have it, folks: the Putin definition of wanting to end his “Special Military Operation” and stop the killing. Is anyone actually surprised?

This round of attacks consisted of 426 Shahed-type drones, five Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and 19 cruise missiles at various locations around the country, including the capital city of Kyiv. [RFE/RL, July 21, 2025.]

In addition to the damage to residential buildings in Kyiv in which one person was killed and others injured, last night’s barrage destroyed the entrance to the Lukyanivska subway station, which has been one of the principal shelters for Kyiv’s residents during attacks. The station had to be closed for repairs until further notice, thus denying the people even that small measure of protection. [Id.]

And in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk — just a few hours’ drive from the borders of NATO member nations Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania — the mayor said the attack was the largest the city had experienced since the beginning of the war more than three years ago. [Id.]

*. *. *

I know it’s easy to give advice when you’re following the carnage from an armchair some 5,000 miles away, and when you’re not responsible for making the decisions that will irreversibly alter the lives of millions of people on another continent. But I’m going to stick my neck out anyway (not for the first time) and say what I think.

Now, you probably know that I am not . . . well . . . not the biggest fan of Donald Trump’s shoot-from-the-hip style of governing. And his habitual reversals of his own decisions, denials of his own earlier statements, and outright untruths are enough to drive even the Dalai Lama insane.

So you may think it a little strange when I say that I hope — just this once — that Trump will go back on his word; withdraw the offer to Putin of a 50-day grace period; immediately slam him and his country with every sort of legal sanction available; and increase, to the extent possible, the supply of weaponry to Ukraine to enable them to keep resisting.

Because the lying, thieving, duplicitous, murderous little tyrant in the Kremlin deserves no better . . . and it’s time for the world to let him know that the grace period on his killing spree has run out.

That’s all I have to say . . . for now. And you may feel free to quote me.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/21/25

No wonder he’s so successful and so filthy stinkin’ rich . . . he’s a freakin’ genius!

While people throughout the world have argued about the efficacy of time travel since H.G. Wells wrote The Time Machine, Jeff Bezos — the founder and head honcho of Amazon — has proven it’s already happened. And I have evidence.

While scanning through Amazon’s endless list of cookbooks, I happened upon one produced by the ever-reliable people at Good Housekeeping.

I’ve followed their recipes for more years than I care to admit, and thought this might be a useful addition to my collection; but I wondered — since GH has been around for so long — how recently it was published, and whether it took into account the features of the newer models of microwaves, updated microwavable containers, etc.

So I took the logical next step, and checked the publication date. And to my total amazement, I found that someone at GH actually had a microwave oven all the way back in 1899 — about the time electricity became available for home use — and had published a book of recipes for it. And Bezos found out about it, before Elon Musk could beat him to it.

Way to go, Jeff!

Offhand, I’d say Amazon’s IT department needs a good proofreader. But thanks for the laugh . . . I can always use one of those.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/21/25

P.S. I decided to pass on the cookbook for now; I’ll wait for an updated edition.

As the bombardments escalate daily, and the number of dead and wounded civilians and military increases incrementally, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, continues to rely on the West for the supply of weaponry he needs to defend his country.

He and his people have proven themselves to be unbelievably strong throughout the three and a half years since Vladimir Putin’s massive army invaded Ukraine and demanded total capitulation, claiming that Ukraine historically “belongs” to Russia.

And Ukraine’s Western allies have stood behind it, providing materiel, technology and training while continuing to search for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

All the while, Putin has done nothing but stall, digging his heels in with his outrageous demands, and piously claiming to desire an end to what he calls Ukraine’s “aggression.” He initially invaded the smaller, weaker country in the expectation that they would surrender within days, or weeks at the most. And when that failed, and the resistance of the Ukrainian people and the Western alliance proved so much greater than he could ever have imagined, he simply mobilized more and more troops, and ramped up the brutality of his attacks.

Putin knew that time was on his side; and now, after 41 months, he may be proven right.

Because last week, despite the continuing devastation, and Putin’s consistent refusal to consider any sort of compromise, Volodymyr Zelensky has once more asked for a new round of peace talks to be held — he hopes — this week:

“Everything should be done to achieve a cease-fire. The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions,” he said in his regular evening address on Saturday. Reiterating his position that a face-to-face meeting with Putin would be to everyone’s advantage, he added that “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace — lasting peace.” [RFE/RL, July 20, 2025.]

This sudden plea for immediate talks — following on the heels of Donald Trump’s gift to Putin of another 50 days’ grace — sounds to me like the desperate last hope of a totally exhausted man. On the other hand, Zelensky may have an ace up his sleeve that he is now ready to reveal. I certainly hope for the best . . . but Moscow’s response didn’t leave much room for optimism.

Russian state TV aired the following comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov yesterday:

“President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy. The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear.” [Id.]

So . . . is that a “no” to any talks this week? It certainly sounds that way. All Putin is offering is a “desire” for a “peaceful conclusion” — on his terms, and his terms only. As the world already knows, because it’s been repeated so many times, that would mean Ukraine having to cede at least 20% of its territory to Russia; forego any hope of ever joining NATO or the EU; limit its own defense capabilities; and leave itself completely vulnerable to almost certain further attack in the future.

Putin has also declared — despite the provisions of Ukraine’s Constitution to the contrary — that Zelensky is not the legitimate president of his country, and is demanding that Ukraine hold new elections before any face-to-face meeting can take place.

And Donald Trump, despite all of his tough talk about additional crippling sanctions, has once again failed to follow through. So where is Putin’s incentive to agree to a meeting now?

It’s only Monday; we’ll have to wait and see what this week may bring . . . though I’m afraid that time is indeed on Putin’s side.

But I really, really want to be wrong.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/21/25

Pence, once Donald Trump’s staunchest ally in the White House, had the temerity to form an opinion of his own.

Musk — well, the story of their breakup is already legendary.

And Rupert Murdoch has been sued by Trump for $10 billion because Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal printed an unfavorable article concerning the infamous Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

They should start a club — all of those former friends and allies of Trump’s — dumped, along with so many others, at the first sign of disagreement or criticism.

And there are sub-sets of his “dumpees,” like ex-wives Ivana and Marla, and girlfriends Jean, Stormy, and who knows how many others.

There’s also a new category — the ones he wants to deprive of their U.S. citizenship, just out of spite: Elon Musk (again), Zohran Mamdani, and even U.S.-born Rosie O’Donnell.

I’m surprised he hasn’t gone after Hungarian-born George Soros’ citizenship yet, for having dared to back Hillary Clinton; but maybe he’s just waiting for the 94-year-old philanthropist to die and save him the trouble.

They should definitely form a club . . . or a support group.

*. *. *

With Trump’s record . . . and just looking at his smug, supercilious facial expressions . . . have you ever wondered why anyone would have been attracted to him — romantically, as a friend, or even as a political ally — in the first place?

For me, there isn’t enough money or a high enough social position in the world to make it worthwhile. Yet people — even a lot of otherwise smart people — continue to latch onto his coattails as though he were the Pied Piper of Hamelin. And we all know how badly that ended.

As an independent thinker, it’s totally beyond my comprehension. And it’s scary.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/20/25

Is it possible? Could we be seeing a complete reversal of Darwin’s theory of evolution? Could chimps really be the Anti-Trumps that will save the world from its own stupidity?

Don’t laugh. Science may be on the verge of something truly revolutionary.

Meet Val, a chimp living in a sanctuary in Africa, who has become part of a study involving a rather unusual behavioral trend: some of the chimps have begun dangling blades of grass or sticks from their ear holes and their . . . well, their rear holes. [Jack Guy, CNN, July 10, 2025.]

The phenomenon was first observed in 2010 at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Zambia. That was where researchers noticed a female chimp beginning to dangle objects from her ear, and other members of the group — apparently thinking they’d hit on a new fashion trend — copying her actions.

More interestingly, chimps in a different group at the sanctuary — located some nine miles away — began demonstrating the same behavior more than ten years later, with some also inserting objects into their rectums.

As the two groups had never interacted, there was no way the second group could have picked up cues from the first. So the staff at the sanctuary began looking at themselves, and discovered that one of their members — who had worked with both groups of chimps — had a habit of cleaning their ears with matchsticks or twigs. (The article doesn’t mention whether they’ve determined what, or who, might have inspired the rear-end action. Maybe those chimps were just itchy.)

There have been other documented cases of chimps mimicking behavioral patterns, such as the group at a zoo in the Netherlands where one female began walking as though she were carrying a baby, even though she wasn’t. Before long, all of the other females had adopted the same walking posture; and new females introduced into the group were not fully accepted until they also learned to do “the walk.” [Id.]

*. *. *

Now, there is a point to this story, beyond the obvious cuteness factor, which is that these hairy little primates — as we have always known — are devilishly clever . . . and perhaps far more so than we realize. Not only do they “ape” our patterns of behavior (pun intended); they also have a sense of logic, an ability to reason, and a range of emotions including the all-important empathy . . . not to mention, an acute fashion sense.

All of which takes me back in time to Planet of the Apes. Science fiction aside, I now find myself fantasizing about a world in which we look to so-called “lesser” animals — say, chimpanzees — who have no inborn or learned animosities or prejudices, no selfishness or jealousy, no greed or hatred — so that we might learn from them how to live in peace and harmony with each other and with our planet . . .

. . . and how to choose leaders who truly have the best interests of the pack at heart.

And then I wake up, and I’m back in the real world.

“Dammit!”

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/20/25

Four days ago, I reported on the reemergence of American Daniel Martindale, who had apparently been missing since being “removed . . . from territory controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces” the previous November.

Martindale suddenly turned up in Moscow last week, where he said at a press conference that he had spent the past two years in Ukraine, spying and reporting on Ukrainian forces for the Russian military . . . and that he now wished to become a Russian citizen.

Well, he has gotten his wish . . . and he has been stricken from our list of Putin’s political hostages, where I had placed him in the mistaken belief that he might have been captured and was being held by Russian authorities.

Martindale never belonged on that list. He was a turncoat . . . a traitor to his country . . . and an accomplice to Putin’s brutal war of attrition against Ukraine.

To my mind, he is nothing more than a footnote to history, best forgotten.

*. *. *

But the true hostages — those political prisoners serving sentences for fabricated crimes who, in reality, have done no more than speak their consciences — remain incarcerated, awaiting justice and a return to their homes and families. And so we remind them again this week that they are not forgotten:

Prisoners of War:

The People of Ukraine
The Azov 12

Political Prisoners:

In Azerbaijan:

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

In Russia, except as otherwise indicated:

David Barnes
Ales Bialiatski (in Belarus)
Gordon Black
Andrei Chapiuk (in Belarus)
Antonina Favorskaya
Konstantin Gabov
Robert Gilman
Stephen James Hubbard
Sergey Karelin
Vadim Kobzev
Darya Kozyreva
Artyom Kriger
Uladzimir Labkovich (in Belarus)
Michael Travis Leake
Aleksei Liptser
Ihar Losik (in Belarus)
Mikita Losik (in Belarus)
Grigory Melkonyants
Nika Novak
Marfa Rabkova (in Belarus)
Nadezhda Rossinskaya (a.k.a. Nadin Geisler)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Eugene Spector
Valiantsin Stafanovic (in Belarus)
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland
Yuras Zyankovich (in Belarus)

. . . and any others I may have overlooked.

Have courage, remain strong, and do not lose hope. The world is waiting for you.

*. *. *

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/20/25

That would be Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, and Putin’s tough-talking, threat-issuing, ultra-hawkish proponent of the war in Ukraine . . . and, apparently, World War III.

Donald Trump’s magnanimous extension of a 50-day period for Moscow to respond to a demand for a ceasefire or face further sanctions has been brushed off by the Kremlin as a mere nuisance. But taken more seriously is Washington’s simultaneous decision to expedite further shipments of missiles and other weaponry to Ukraine.

Ignoring the facts as usual, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing in Moscow:

“It is obvious that the Kyiv regime consistently perceives such decisions by the collective West as a signal to continue the slaughter and abandon the peace process. . . . The language of ultimatums, blackmail, and threats is unacceptable to us. We will take all necessary steps to ensure the security and protect the interests of our country.” [Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov, Reuters, July 17, 2025.]

Someone might want to remind Zakharova just who invaded whom on February 24, 2022, and who is being slaughtered by whom . . . but that might be inconvenient.

Apparently, however, Zakharova’s comments weren’t forceful enough for Dmitry Medvedev. While assuring the West that Russia had no plans to attack NATO or Europe, Medvedev said on Thursday that — if it believed the West was escalating what he described as its full-scale war against Russia — “We need to act accordingly. To respond in full. And if necessary, launch preemptive strikes.” [Id.]

If they believe the West is escalating . . . respond in full . . . preemptive strikes: That is the stuff of nuclear nightmares.

How much of what Medvedev says is a reflection of the actual amount of weight he carries in the Kremlin, and how much is bluff and bluster, we can’t be sure. We can only hope and pray that he’s not the guy with his finger on the button.

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/19/25

As my readers know by now, the Feenstras are a large family — Dad Arend, Mom Anneesa, and eight children ranging from teenagers to toddler — who sold their farm in Saskatchewan to begin a new life on a farm they are building from scratch in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia.

Their purpose was to get away from the “wokeness” of their native Canada in order to raise their children in a more conservative environment, free from the perceived “dangers” of LGBTQ+ liberalism. After a year and a half, they seem to be making great progress . . . but only with the help of the Russian government in exchange for their never-ending participation in propaganda programs and videos being disseminated worldwide via social media.

I can’t say I agree with what they are doing; but their personal choices are theirs to make, and I do admit to a certain admiration for their tenacity and their unstinting faith that they have made the right decision for their children.

*. *. *

Yesterday, though, I came across a story about an American family — Derek and DeAnna Huffman and their three daughters — who moved to the Moscow region a few months ago, for pretty much the same reasons as the Feenstras.

Their May 21st post on @HuffmanTime read: “We’re the Huffman family — Americans who moved to Russia 2 months ago! Derek (46) has a background in welding & construction, DeAnna (42) is a former teacher & floral designer, and we’re raising our 3 daughters (12, 11 & 10) while embracing a whole new life, language, and culture.” [Josh Fiallo, Daily Beast, July 18, 2025.]

But things are not working out so well for the Huffmans. In an effort to gain expedited Russian citizenship for his family, and in hopes of being able to “earn” the respect of their new Russian neighbors, Derek Huffman — naively believing the government’s recruiting propaganda — enlisted in the military on the promise that he would not be sent to the front lines in Ukraine, but would be working as a correspondent (albeit with no knowledge of the Russian language) or as a welder.

He also believed the recruitment promises of financial benefits. But after a month of training, the Huffmans have yet to receive the first payment.

I’m sure you know what to expect next: Derek is being sent to the front lines after all, with no military background and only minimal training — and that training being conducted in Russian, which he does not understand.

His wife DeAnna said, “Unfortunately, when you’re taught in a different language, and you don’t understand the language, how are you really getting taught? You’re not. So, unfortunately, he feels like he’s being thrown to the wolves right now, and he’s kind of having to lean on faith, and that’s what we’re all doing.” [Id.]

Last month, Derek had told Russian state media:

“The point of this act [joining the military] for me is to earn a place here in Russia. If I risk myself for our new country, no one will say that I am not a part of it.” [Id.]

And now he is being used as cannon fodder, along with thousands of Putin’s conscripts being recruited from jails, prisons and homeless shelters to fill the empty spaces left by the dead and wounded.

Last year, Russian lawmaker Aleksandr Borodai — who heads a group called the Union of Donbas Volunteers — was recorded telling officers that the military brass considers volunteer soldiers “second-rate infantry [needed to] exhaust the enemy’s manpower” as much as possible before a full attack can be launched by regular army units. In the same conversation, he referred to volunteers as “expendable manpower.” [Daniil Belovodyev and Systema, RFE/RL, July 17, 2025.]

And that is what the well-meaning but seriously misguided Derek Huffman has signed up for.

*. *. *

Aside from the obvious concerns about Derek’s chances of survival, my thoughts naturally go to DeAnna and the three children. What will they do, and how will they survive, while he is fighting in Ukraine? And what will become of them if, in the worst-case scenario, he doesn’t return?

These are the possibilities that people need to consider before deciding that the grass is going to be greener somewhere else. Is it really worth all of this, just to shelter your children from some of the realities of life that don’t happen to conform to your beliefs?

I, for one, don’t think so. But that’s only my opinion.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/19/25