No, this is not “Uncle Sam Wants You” — that was 1940s America.

But apparently it’s also 2020s Russia . . . only it’s “Uncle Vladimir Wants You.” And “you” are any and all Westerners unhappy enough with your lives to buy into his snake-oil sales pitch.

In August of last year, Vladimir Putin established something called a temporary-residency visa, available to foreigners who oppose their native countries’ “destructive neoliberal ideological agenda,” and share “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” [Brett Forrest and Vera Bergengruen, Wall Street Journal, February 19, 2025.]

Well, that explains everything . . . everything about the Feenstra family from Canada, that is. All of my questions have now been answered — and my suspicions confirmed — as to their seemingly successful integration into Russian society, their relatively easy movement through the mass of red tape involved in becoming legal residents, their apparent financial comfort, and their popularity on social media.

In their YouTube broadcasts, they have made frequent mention of an agency in their region of Nizhny Novgorod that has been of invaluable assistance to them in navigating the Russian bureaucratic obstacle course. And they have been outspoken in their desire to welcome more and more families such as theirs to the Russian “promised land.”

What was not mentioned was the breadth of the scope of Putin’s effort to increase Russia’s population — while at the same time giving himself yet another opportunity to stick it to the West. According to official (meaning, unreliable) Russian statistics, temporary residency has been granted to nearly 5,000 Westerners since the beginning of 2022. [Id.]

A new “Welcome to Russia” office has been established to make the transitions easier, and to publicize the emigration of the Western families. And — as a final “nyah, nyah” to the U.S. — the program is headed by member of Parliament Maria Butina . . . who, before returning home for a career in politics, was convicted in U.S. Federal Court in 2018 of acting as an unregistered foreign agent and sentenced to 18 months in prison (a far cry from the sentences handed down in Russia to foreigners convicted of similar charges).

Another transplant — this one from Florida in the U.S. — is Joseph Rose. He moved to Moscow with his wife and their four children in 2022, and also broadcasts on YouTube. He has recently said:

“There is a place in this world where you can live traditional family values, like your best vision of 1950s America. That place exists right now, and it’s here in Russia.” [Id.]

Unbelievable!

Now, I can certainly understand why some people might, in these more liberal times, be searching for a place to live quietly, where they can adhere to their “traditional spiritual and moral values.” And it’s not unreasonable for them to be willing to move considerable distances to find that perfect place. If that’s the life that makes them happy, then more power to them; I hope they find their peace and joy.

But why would they ever think that Russia would be that place? Don’t they read? Have they not bothered to study a bit about Russia’s centuries-old history of autocracy, oppression, serfdom, communism? Do they not know what Vladimir Putin really stands for? Can they not see that, after 30 short years of relative freedom and an attempt to build a democratic society and a market economy, Putin has taken the country into a 180-degree turn — not just to dictatorship — but to the added tyranny of oligarchy? Have they, in their fear of “wokeness,” become deaf and blind to the truth?

It appears so. And that includes the Feenstras.

But what of the future? When, inevitably, the newness wears off, and Putin abandons them to get by as best they can without his special favors; and when their sons begin receiving military conscription notices; and when the world loses interest in their YouTube channel . . . what then?

*. *. *

In light of the number of emigres who have supposedly come to Russia in the past three years, I ask myself what makes the Feenstras so special that they have become the face of Putin’s “Welcome to Russia” program. And I believe it can be traced back to their arrival in Moscow just over a year ago, when they found their newly-opened bank account frozen, and the farm they had been promised to be non-existent. At that point, stunned and frightened, they took to mass media and told the world of their predicament, sparing no details.

And immediately, things changed. Their account was unfrozen; they were found shelter and ultimately a nice piece of farmland; and everything seemed to fall miraculously into place. And they thanked God for looking after them.

But Vladimir Putin does not like negative publicity. And I hope that Arend and Anneesa Feenstra are aware of the fact that their adopted president also has a long memory, and that their earlier tactic — going public — isn’t going to work twice.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/21/25

First it was the eldest daughter, Cora, talking to the camera. And now it’s 15-year-old son Wesley — a slightly shy yet delightfully personable young man — starring in that Russian social media hit, “Countryside Acres.”

It took the form of an interview, with Wesley and the unseen interviewer standing outdoors in the cold Russian February. At first I thought it might have been Cora asking the questions, as sort of a family-fun type of entertainment. The interviewer was female, and spoke perfect English, so it may indeed have been Cora — or even their mother, Anneesa. If that was made clear at the beginning of the video, I’m afraid I missed it.

In any event, the questions were obviously pre-prepared, and Wesley seemed to anticipate them, as his responses were not generally hesitant. He was first asked how he liked Russia, to which he said he liked it “pretty well.” He went on to say that the people were “a bit kinder” than in Canada, and that there seemed to be more opportunity in Russia because there are a lot of things that “can be improved” and that “people here haven’t found yet.”

That struck me as either a naively honest answer, or a scripted come-on for prospective emigres who might be having trouble finding work in their own countries. You know: “Come to Russia, the land of opportunity. We have lots of work, because we’re somewhat behind the times and need people to help us catch up.”

Well, I can tell you right now where they need help: Public relations. Because that sales pitch does not make me want to pack my bags and renew my passport.

Anyway, the interviewer then asked him what he missed about Canada. And for the first time, I heard one of the Feenstras mention the son/brother left behind in Canada. Wesley said — without going into detail — that he missed his brother and his grandparents. He also mentioned a cousin, and said it made him sad to think he might never again be able to visit them in Canada.

And tools; he misses tools. In Canada, they had all the tools they needed, he said; but here in Russia . . . not so much.

Brother, grandparents, cousin, and tools. This young man has his priorities straight.

Does he have any friends in Russia? Uh . . . not so many, apparently. After thinking for a moment, he said there were two in Nizhny Novgorod, and of course, there is his family. The interviewer then prompted him about some old people in the villages, and he remembered that yes, he likes to visit with them. Again, there was no clarification of who these senior citizens are or what connection he might have with them; but I do recall Cora mentioning something similar in her earlier broadcast.

Community service, perhaps — helping out at the old folks’ home? I haven’t a clue.

When asked about plans for the future, most teenaged boys would talk about a chosen field of study or career path — engineer, musician, horse whisperer, whatever. But not our Wesley. Emulating his dad, he said he wants to get married and have a family, and to be a farmer and carpenter. But first he would hope to go to college, or to do “something important.” And he would “save up” to be able to buy his own farm. Nothing wrong with any of those ambitions, though he might want to narrow it down a bit.

There were some rather mundane inquiries about such things as his favorite food (Georgian khachapuri — a delicious sort of cheese pizza, sometimes topped with an egg); his least favorite thing (studying, as he would rather be active than seated at a desk); activities (swimming, driving the tractor, carpentry); and learning Russian (he understands it pretty well, but finds it difficult to speak).

And then came a return to the big question: the one about missing his home in Canada. He started with a straightforward enlargement of his earlier comment, saying that he was sad to know he would never live there (not just visit) again. But then — as though suddenly remembering the correct answer to a test question — he smiled and said that he thinks of life in Russia as an exciting adventure.

But that wasn’t good enough for the interviewer, who continued to goad him, asking again and again if he missed Canada. He finally said that, while he does miss his relatives, he “prefers it here,” and “feels better” about the move after having lived there for a year.

Is he happy about the family’s having cleared the first hurdle toward eventual citizenship?

Well, of course he is. Was there ever any doubt?

*. *. *

And as the sun set on beautiful Countryside Acres Farm in idyllic Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Wesley Feenstra was free to rejoin his family indoors, having given his premier performance as a shill for Vladimir Putin’s “Come To Russia” campaign.

All part of the price of admission, it seems.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/20/25

February 20th: World Day of Social Justice.

And if that doesn’t start your day off with a laugh, a chuckle, or a guffaw, I don’t know what will.

Oh, the irony!

Happy Thursday, everyone.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/20/25

Forget about democracy, republicanism, autocracy, communism, fascism, monarchy, socialism, despotism, dictatorship, monocracy, tsarism . . . all of the “isms” and other names given to governments throughout the ages. The year 2025 may well go down in history as having given birth to the first new governmental model in centuries:

TRUMPUTINISM

In reality a hybrid of several of the earlier appellations, its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has evolved from the formerly opposing doctrines of two adversarial countries — the United States and the Soviet Union . . . oops, sorry . . . Russia.

In our fable, the current leaders of those two great lands have cannily realized the advantages to themselves of burying the hostilities of the past and joining forces.

Under the umbrella of Trumputinism, they can easily conquer the remainder of the militarily weaker world. There is, after all, enough wealth to share — even for two greedy, narcissistic, power-mad individuals such as themselves. And for several years, they might even rule happily together in their new empire of Mar-a-Moscow.

Well . . . mostly happily, anyway.

That is, until one fateful day, when one of the co-emperors happens to recall a biblical story of two brothers named Cain and Abel, has an epiphany, and . . .

And the rest, as they say, becomes history repeating itself.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/20/25

If it weren’t so flagrantly, so outrageously, so egregiously untrue . . . so disgustingly low, so ugly, so . . . so . . . so . . . unAmerican! . . . and if I weren’t so totally sober . . . it would almost be comical.

I’m talking about the autocrat in the White House calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — the man who has fought so heroically for three years to keep his country from being swallowed whole by Russian marauders — a “dictator.”

Surely, he was looking in the mirror when that word escaped his lips.

In the end, history will reveal without question who was the dictator and who was the true hero. I just hope I’m still around to see the final reckoning.

But we already know the answer, don’t we?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/19/25

A meeting was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday, between representatives of the United States and Russia, concerning steps to be taken toward a peaceful settlement of Russia’s war of attrition against Ukraine. But no one from Ukraine was there.

And when Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had the audacity to complain about not having been invited to a discussion of the future of his own country, one of the presidents represented in Riyadh had this response:

“Today I heard, ‘Oh well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you [sic] been there for three years. You should’ve ended it after three years. You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal.” [Stephen Collinson, CNN, February 18, 2025.]

Right — they should never have started the war that was thrust upon them when Russia’s forces invaded their territory on February 24, 2022. They could have made a deal . . . presumably by knuckling under to the aggressor on the first day of the invasion. Yeah, sure.

“Well, isn’t that just like Vladimir Putin!” I believe I heard you say. And it would be quite logical for you to reach that conclusion about the tyrant who actually started it all.

But it wasn’t Putin speaking. It was Donald Trump, the President of the United States, once more echoing Putin’s stance — just as he has done time and time again when he agreed that Ukraine should not be part of NATO; that new presidential elections should be held in Ukraine as soon as possible (thereby implying that Zelensky is not, as Putin alleges, the “legitimate” president); and that Ukraine should cede a sizable portion of its sovereign territory to Russia in order to end the war.

It wasn’t enough for Trump that, in placing his call to Putin last week, he gave the Russian dictator the supreme gift of legitimacy . . . in one swift stroke bringing the pariah back to the table with the grownups; inviting him to Washington; suggesting the past three years of sanctions be eased; even mentioning the possibility of Russia’s being readmitted to the G7, making it once again the G8.

Not to mention, throwing open the doors to Putin’s ambition of future expansion into the rest of Europe. And all without a single concession from the Russian side.

But what else should we have expected from the person who thinks Canada, Greenland and Gaza should just turn themselves over to him?

*. *. *

It’s no wonder I wake up in the morning feeling like Alice, having just discovered the upside-down-ness of the Looking Glass House.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/19/25

I know you’ve felt it: that exhaustion that is more than simple end-of-the-workday tired, more than just-ran-a-10k tired, and way more than restless-night tired. It’s the kind that leaves you sitting around in your pajamas all day, barely able to pick up the remote to change the TV channel, let alone shuffle into the kitchen for some much-needed sustenance.

Yup . . . it’s that kind of tired. You know you look like death warmed over, but you’re too tired to care. You need to pay some bills, but they can wait until tomorrow, because doing it now would involve picking up your laptop and logging into your accounts. And you really need a shower, but there’s no one else around so who’s going to give a crap?

And it’s not just today; lately, it’s been almost every day. But just as you’re beginning to worry that it could be a serious health issue, you read an article that says, first, you might want to check with your doctor (that’s so you don’t sue the magazine if it turns out you really are sick); and second, if you follow that good advice and your doctor doesn’t find anything wrong with you, you’re probably just bored, depressed, stressed, or all three . . . which, considering the current state of the world, would not be surprising.

Or — says the article — you could have . . .

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME!

And suddenly, there it is: the epiphany you’ve been waiting for. You’ve got that thing that doctors fall back on when all the tests and scans and exams have shown that you’re as healthy as a Budweiser Clydesdale — for your age, that is.

But wait — what was that the doctor said? “For your age”?!! Did you hear what you think you heard? Did that medical genius just tell you you’re getting OLD??!!!

But that’s not possible . . . or is it? So you look yourself over.

Complexion: A few lines and wrinkles (actually, more than a few).
Figure: Damn that gravity!
Tummy: Hey! Where did those abs go, anyway?
Teeth: About half real, half fake.
Hair: Used to be thicker. Also used to be darker and shinier.
Eyebrows: What eyebrows?

And so it goes, right past the deflated boobs and the saggy bottom, all the way down to the toenail fungus. Finally, you leave your chair and hobble over to the full-length mirror, where you force yourself to face the awful truth:

Well, no wonder you’re tired, you flaming idiot! Because while you weren’t looking . . . while you were busy living your life, studying, working, raising a family, partying, traveling, whatever . . . six or seven or eight decades have flown by. And there isn’t a damned thing you can do about it.

But give it some thought. Haven’t those years been full of some really good stuff: the study, work, family, parties, travel, and whatever? Haven’t you accomplished a few worthwhile things you can be proud of? And hasn’t at least some of it been an absolute blast?

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave since you hit puberty, then most likely the answer is a resounding YES! And you realize you’ve earned every one of those little lines and wrinkles, and you’ve worked your ass off until it has an absolute right to sag.

And you may be exhausted, and you may even be a little depressed at times. But you’re still breathing . . . there’s still Haagen-Dazs in the freezer . . . and there’s still plenty of wine in the bottle.

So enjoy this time, sweetheart . . . whatever is left of it. You’ve earned it.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/19/25

Disclaimer: I am not a trained body language analyst.

That said, I would very much like to take a stab at the picture that accompanied the RFE/RL report on the U.S.-Russia meeting at Riyadh today, wherein the participants were supposed to have begun taking the first baby steps toward negotiating a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine.

From the perspective of a lifelong people-watcher, I see, first, an immovable object (Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov); second, an old Soviet hardliner with a really bad hairpiece (Russian foreign policy adviser Ushakov); and finally, a terrified U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, looking heavenward and saying a silent prayer to get him the hell out of this Godforsaken place.

(In all fairness, everyone seems to be gazing at something above eye level; but check out Rubio’s intertwined fingers, hands clasped in front of him in a defensive position, and his scared-shitless facial expression. He looks like the sole virgin in a roomful of old prostitutki.)

*. *. *

But seriously, folks . . .

All of the participants traveled for many hours over long distances to meet in (supposedly) neutral territory, where they spent just four hours to achieve . . . what?

Both sides seemed to agree that further steps were necessary, that they were in favor of continuing meetings, and that lunch was delicious.

You’re correct . . . I made that last part up. But there isn’t much else to report. The Russian side repeated its demands, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the talks were “the first step of a long and difficult journey,” and that the two delegations had agreed on four principles: fully restoring their respective diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow; appointing a high-level team to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine; exploring further “geopolitical and economic cooperation that could result from an end to the conflict in Ukraine”; and ensuring that the delegations present today will remain engaged in discussions moving forward. [RFE/RL, February 18, 2025.]

In other words, Putin’s “time out” punishment — consisting primarily of ever-increasing sanctions over the past three years — is nearly over, and, like a spoiled child holding his breath until he turns blue, he is about to be rewarded for his tantrum by being given pretty much everything he wants.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov (a.k.a. “The Great Stone Face”) had less to offer. He called the meeting “very useful,” and said:

“I have every reason to believe that the American side understands our position” . . . adding that the Kremlin would aim to appoint a special envoy as soon as possible. [Id.]

Whatever that means.

He did add a few non-specific phrases, such as “practically agreed,” “a mutual desire,” “after that,” and the like, but tossed in a “completely unacceptable” with regard to any potential deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine.

*. *. *

There was also a brief comment from Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, who was part of the Russian delegation but not included in the high-level meeting. He told Russian state-operated TV Channel One:

“A very positive, constructive dialogue has begun. Unlike the Biden administration, which never tried to hear Russia’s position, this was a very clear effort to start dialogue, understand Russia’s position and discuss the things we agree upon. There are many points we agree on … we got to know each other much better … we understand each other much better now.” [Vitaliy Shevchenko, BBC Monitoring, February 18, 2025.]

Translation: Biden held a strong position against the Russian autocracy, whereas Trump is Putin’s patsy.

*. *. *

Meanwhile, back in Moscow . . .

What would a report on Russia be without a word from Putin’s favorite mouthpiece, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who had this to say to reporters today:

“A comprehensive long-term settlement is impossible without a comprehensive consideration of security issues on the continent.” He meant Russia’s security, of course. He then gratuitously added that Vladimir Putin would be open to talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “if necessary.” [RFE/RL, op.cit.]

That seems to be a step forward from Putin’s recent refusals to talk to Zelensky, whom he considers to be an “illegitimate” president. But could you possibly be any more condescending, Dima?

*. *. *

So, to sum it all up: The highly-anticipated meeting at Riyadh was, in fact, much ado about nothing.

Millions of taxpayer dollars (and rubles) were spent on sending these people to a conference that resulted in a tentative agreement to try to come to a more substantive agreement at some future date . . . we hope.

21st Century international diplomacy at work.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/18/25

Why go to all the bother of negotiating and arranging the release of a prisoner from a Siberian penal colony when you can simply snatch someone from a Moscow airport, charge him with drug smuggling, hold him for ten days, and then offer him up as a token of good will toward your best friend in Washington?

That seems to be Vladimir Putin’s way of thinking this week. Because word was received early this morning of the release of one Kalob Wayne Byers, said to be safely tucked away now at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow while awaiting a flight home to the U.S. And all, apparently, out of the goodness of Putin’s heart.

Did anyone even know Byers had been arrested? Possibly . . . though it doesn’t seem to have made the news reports at the time. It appears that he was detained when customs officials allegedly found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage — a rather innovative violation that carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. [RFE/RL, February 18, 2025.]

How fortunate for Byers that his arrival in Moscow coincided with the current attempts underway to improve U.S.-Russian relations . . . otherwise known as the renewal of the Trump-Putin bromance of yesteryear. At another time, Byers and his marmalade would have been “toast.”

I suppose we’re meant to take this as a hopeful sign for the future of negotiations concerning Ukraine. But don’t be fooled; it’s nothing more than a “red herring” (and yes, there is a Russian phrase for that) — designed to distract the world from what’s really going on behind the scenes.

And frankly, it stinks.

But — looking at the bright side — at least I didn’t have to add Mr. Byers’ name to my long-term hostage list.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/18/25

Remember the scene from “Carrie,” where the hand pops up from Carrie’s grave and grabs Sue’s arm, dragging her downward? How, just before that happens, you know something terrifying is coming because . . . well, because it’s a Stephen King story? And how, even though you know, and you’re anticipating something shocking, you still jump, and maybe even scream?

Well, that’s what life has felt like lately: I keep waiting for that hand to spring up again.

And every day, there is some new, unimaginable horror: an attack on the Treasury; the takeover of the Kennedy Center; the appointment of a totally incompetent wacko as head of Health and Human Services; wholesale firings of employees who have done nothing wrong; convicted felons being pardoned and released from prison; an army of thugs demanding access to the most confidential information in the government’s records . . . and a complete reversal of international policies that have succeeded in staving off a third world war for the past 80 years.

And just as you think it can’t get any worse . . . it does.

*. *. *

First, a little history:

“On April 6, 1933, the Nazi German Student Association’s Main Office for Press and Propaganda announced a nationwide initiative ‘against the un-German spirit,’ climaxing in a literary Sauberung, or cleansing, by fire. Local chapters of the group were charged with the distribution of literary blacklists that included Jewish, Marxist, Socialist, anti-family, and anti-German literature and planned grand ceremonies for the public to gather and dispose of the objectionable material.” [“The Empty Library,” Wikipedia.]

The following month, on May 10, 1933, some 40,000 people gathered at the Opernplatz (now known as the Bebelplatz) in central Berlin to watch 5,000 German students, carrying burning torches, march past them to set fire to a pile of books that had been collected for the event. Joseph Goebbels, Germany’s Reich Minister of Propaganda, spoke to the crowd, saying that:

“ . . . the era of exaggerated Jewish intellectualism is now at an end … and the future German man will not just be a man of books … this late hour [I] entrust to the flames the intellectual garbage of the past.” [Id.]

It was just the first of 35 book burnings to take place across Germany that month.

I have stood at that spot, gazing down at the barren underground shelves that commemorate that night of horror under the Nazi regime. It would take another 12 years, and a world war of indescribable death and destruction, before that regime and its leader — Adolph Hitler — would be defeated.

The book burnings were just the beginning.

*. *. *

In comparison to recent events in the United States, the following incident may seem insignificant. But viewed in the context of history, it is anything but that.

Julianne Moore is a noted American actress who has also written a series of children’s books — known as the “Freckleface Strawberry” series — the first of which has been adapted into a musical that premiered in New York in 2010. It was written for her young son when he expressed dissatisfaction with some facet of his personal appearance, and tells the story of a girl (herself) who is teased about her freckles and wishes to be rid of them, but eventually learns to accept them.

Moore grew up in a military family, and is a graduate of the Frankfurt American High School operated by the U.S. Department of Defense. And now her books have been banned by the Trump Administration from all schools operated by the Defense Department.

The official synopsis for the first book reads:

“If you have freckles, you can try these things: 1) Make them go away. Unless scrubbing doesn’t work. 2) Cover them up. Unless your mom yells at you for using a marker. 3) Disappear. Um, where’d you go? Oh, there you are. There’s one other thing you can do: 4) LIVE WITH THEM! Because after all, the things that make you different also make you, YOU.” [Jack Dunn, Variety, February 16, 2025.]

In response to the news that her sweet children’s books promoting self-acceptance had been banned by the Trump administration, Moore had this to say:

“‘Freckleface Strawberry’ is a semi-autobiographical story about a seven year old girl who dislikes her freckles but eventually learns to live with them when she realizes that she is different ‘just like everybody else.’ It is a book I wrote for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community.” [Id.]

What could be more innocent? And why would a children’s book even warrant the attention of the White House?

Because it promotes uniqueness, acceptance, and — by extension — the dreaded DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Something that Donald Trump, somewhere in the dark, deluded depths of his impenetrable mind, has deemed to be a threat to mankind and must therefore be stamped out. That’s why.

We haven’t started burning books yet. But isn’t this how it begins?

Welcome to 1933, America.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/18/25