Category: Russia

Last night the Nightingale sang and sang! I have recorded the Nightingale last year and this year, after the many babies last year, we have Nightingales all over the village. It is really wonderful and it looks like we will have another nest on the fence as it was last year. (If ? He can find a girlfriend? I am sure he will and he is trying real hard, as he sings so beautiful all night long. How could a sweet girl Nightingale resist?) Mother Nature is wonderful…

Everyday the people in the Tiny Russian Village siesta. It is something I will do also, for it seems just the right thing to do. The people rest through the hot noon sun and come out to pay or work again when the edge of heat comes off the sun. So it is work early and sleep some more and then work later in the evening…

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I started this article many days ago and today I will finish it…

I will finish it with a worry. I am seeing many articles about Americans and Britain’s wanting to or desiring to move to Russia. They are attracted to the idea of free land and free Russia. Russia is free and liberty, reins true over all of it in comparison to the western world…

Russia is far from perfect and one thing Russia will do is to is to toughen your ass up. Russians do not have stigmas about political correctness and they do not care if life is tough for you. There is no safe hide hole to run to, when life bothers you. Welfare is virtually non existence and governmental interference is definitely non existent. You stand on your own two feet and or you die…

But, if you help someone, they will help you back when needed. If you are an ass to people, then you go down with your ass attached and people will not care. You have to have a huge massive mindset change to survive Russia and you have to be willing to become Russian to make it. Thus when you break your big toe and it hurts, you still walk and gather what life needs to survive. Then you share what you gathered if the guy next to you does not have what you have and vice a versa. For he has the same broken toe and you would never know it. Just a simple example…

Russians are intelligent and very philosophical. They all know what is wrong with the world and maybe that is why I fit in so well. I seem to act like I know what is wrong with the world also. It is important to understand that Russians are very deep thinkers and will remember everything you say to the last letter of the sentence. Do not lie to a Russian, drunk or not, they will remember how you act and think…

As with me, you do not want to make Russians an enemy. They are the worst kind of foe. They will take so much and you think they are weak, but then as you look away for one minute, they will smack you silly and take you down. They are quiet and methodological about their responses. But in the same token, they will become your best friend and never leave you. Russian women are a perfect example; they are ferociously loyal to their men and I know, My sweet pea is a good example of a Russian woman…

My friend Vova is a good example of an old Soviet type friend. His Vodka is important and good friends are more important. For friends are invaluable to survival and this last winter, Vova and I spent much time together and we talked about many things. One thing that is more true than anything; Russians have lost the starry eyed aspect they had about America and America was a fool to not befriend a country full of intellects, who will fight you to the ends of the earth and farther. Russians will push you into Hell itself and follow you there to finish the job. In the same breath, they will help you into Heaven and stay away, for they have done the utmost in service to life itself…

They are religious without even knowing it and believe in a God, but a God who helps only those that help themselves. If helping themselves is helping you, then they will. By this act, they live a full and eventful life and they do not fear anything to speak of. They are curious, intelligent, soulful, thoughtful and forgiving. They forgive if you are sincere in your apologies…

Russians want one leader for life. They do not and can not understand the charades played by America. Changing a president every four years makes no sense and they really have no desire to change their president at all. A president for life is considered the best and is not looked at as a dictator. They are intellects and want stability and realize that America does not offer stability, either abroad or within her boarders…

So what I am saying in this post is that people who dream of coming to Russia to live, need to seriously think what they want. Russia is harsh and brutal at times. It is a world of wonderment, but can be a world of hurt, for those who are weak. Winter is tough and it gets cold, not one or two days of cold, but months of deep freeze (some places all year long) that will take your life in a heartbeat. For two months I watched my breath freeze in the air and make a tinkling sound as it settled to the ground. But then again, Russia is the most free place I have ever been and freedom is part of that harsh and brutal world it is. People can not have their cake and eat it to….My cake is with out icing and I like it that way… 😉

Bottom line of all this; Do not come to Russia and expect government welfare! The government has better things to do, like protect the people from the western world morals and warfare attitude and that is exactly how it should be…

They do not have it or care for it. That is the way I like it…

If you come to Russia? Come to live a Russian life, not change what Russia is, to how you expect life to be…

WtR

I had thought yesterday was going to be slow and uneventful, but Vova decided he needed help in gathering supplies for his animals and truthfully; he did need my help and my presence garnered him supplies in some cases…

When you live in the country or as my case as growing up. Farmers do what it takes to survive. It is no different even in modern times in Russia as now days, many people in America have lost their deep roots to the land that they can not fathom how the world really works. This is the same all over the world, the only exception that I have seen with huge cites in the world, is Moscow. Moscow still has most people planting gardens to survive. Even in the big city of Moscow, they grow food anywhere….Maybe you have seen people do it in other large cities, but Moscow has the highest percent of people still attached to the earth and that attachment comes from the fact that Russians have Dachas and at these Dachas they grow food for good eating….Dachas seem to be a right and or freedom for Russians to have, not a burden against them…

Therefore, Vova and I spent 5 hours driving around the back roads of rural Russia. During this excursion, we gathered over a thousand pounds of food stuffs for his pig, rabbits and chickens. The whole country side was doing the same and the haves were giving to the have nots…

This is a very important function of society and probably the most important part that I know of, for a society to survive. People have to give and take as needed, to allow all to survive. When we start thinking that we own anything we touch or think, is when we fail as a society. Greed is the word I am looking for…

Lets look at two pictures…

I am not putting images of what we did, for that would be wrong. I was allowed to become deeper into the Russian society and welcomed with open arms. The first image is a typical Russian Village Main Road. This is how a village looks as I drove from one to another. Yes, they are rooted to the earth and live accordingly…

The next image is Vova and I at a woman friend of his. Very nice lady and a fantastic cook. She seems to fancy Vova and she knew ahead of time an American was coming. Vova makes sure to use that ace card to his advantage…

Yes, that was a great meal…

I want to talk about something I just said above…

The “ace card to his advantage,” Vova is smart, well sometimes. When it comes to survival he is smart. One thing we did was gather about a thousand pounds of grain for the chickens to eat all summer. That meant we went to a grain storage area and bartered for grain. Or better yet, used anything and or anyone to get the grain for virtually free. This grain is important to survival, but cost is prohibitive for people like Vova and me. Thus when the guy in charge of the grain storage, bulked at letting Vova get grain for free. Vova was in trouble…

Vova had a bottle of vodka, box of chocolates and chocolate bars to give all around. I was with him when he bought them and I watched the whole process of trading this for that and giving gifts to entice people to be friendly. Vova was looking like he may not get his grain, for the man was the boss and he was not the friend of a friend that helps people like Vova. Then Vova’s eyes lit up and he pointed at me and said, “My friend is American!”

The ace card was played and a man who two minutes before had decided not to take the box of candy and not allow grain to go out the door. Smiled and hugged me! I was kissed on each cheek and after several other guys decided to do the same. I was accepted and a boss of the complex was so happy to see his first American, he took the candy and the candy bars and spread the treats among the workers. After he hugged me again and waved us to the storage area. He left and drove away in his UAZ… I became that Ace In The Hole!

The bottle of vodka went to the man in charge of storage and he took his bottle, buried it deep in a corner of the grain, to get later and left us to our work. About a thousand pounds later, we took off and we found about six people at the gate of the storage area, who all came to see the American. It was interesting…

Now the original reason I was needed was because I do not drink vodka. It was easy to turn down vodka on this trip, because, I was driving and Russians are smarter than they use to be. No drinking and no driving. I was the designated driver and thus excluded from all the social shots of life…

Very important socially that Vova sat with friends and others and drank his shots of vodka, to be one and the same. Not that Vova suffered in the least. He enjoys his vodka and he enjoyed this trip. For every stop was another shot or two of vodka and I could see why he needed me to drive. Kinda hard to drive with a bottle of vodka in you as you travel the countryside… 😉

I learned a bunch about the real Russia. I learned that Russia and Russians are just like me and just like it was as I grew up. I realized that the friends I made yesterday, will all come in helpful in a future if needed…

I also learned that you play the cards you are dealt and if you have an Ace; play it when needed…

By the time we were done yesterday, we had packed a Niva LADA to the max and more. We had rutabagas, onions, beets, grain and assortment of various equipment, needed to raise his chicks getting ready to hatch. The Niva was sitting on her springs and the trip home was slow and easy…

That trip back gave me time to watch a whole world of Russians doing the same as we were. Many had horses and carts and they went door to door gathering potatoes and other root veggies to feed farm animals…

Yes! I was right at home and realized why I fit into Russia so well…

I just love Russia…

WtR

Yesterday I finished the oak trees and got them moved out of the worlds way. It was a bad place that they were put in the first place, but all is good in the end. I spent two days cutting up six trees. Six seasoned and hard as a rock Oak trees. Vova came to help and we got it done…

I will split all that is cut to proper length and then start cutting the longer pieces. Looks like I will split wood most of the summer off and on. That should get me in good shape again… 😉

The lake is really full and looks like they are going to fill it to the max level. It is so high now that the original overflow into a small lake is usable and I have never seen that before. They have been filling for three days straight and I see why they fixed the dam. For if they had not, our lake and the one next to it, would be connected. The dam was corroded away between them and now both lakes are full. I hope they fill the lake across the road to its fullest also. We gonna have some fish!

Boza and I just cut a large part of the yard and we quit when Father Pavel came to have services. The bell was ringing and people by the dozens walked up the hill to go to church today. I stay quiet during the few hours that he is here on Saturday, just seems respectful and proper…

Been working too hard anyway for many days now, thus I better slow down today and rest. My straw boss Boza said I can rest and he is now sound asleep himself. Good boss, that Boza…

It will be 12 degrees today and sunny all day long. That is as good as it gets, for a perfect day in my eyes…

Have a nice day and enjoy life, for it is just too short not to…

WtR

by John Stanton…

“When the United States goes to war they will introduce a war economy. This means sacrificing everything for the army and war purposes – and misery for the population. How can there be a self-sustaining economy for the United States? In times of peace you have 10 million unemployed – and this in a time of relative prosperity; during crises you have 13 to 14 million unemployed. Moreover you must export. To do this you must import. What? Products that will ruin your farmers, who are even now being supported artificially? No, there is no possibility. Instead, it is necessary to organize a kind of fascism – an organized control of the misery, because what is fascism except the organization of misery for the people. The New Deal tried to do it in a better way but did not succeed, because at that period you remained too rich for a fascist misery. However you will become poorer and poorer, and as a result the next New Deal will be in fascist form…

“Capitalism in the United States is running head on into those problems which impelled Germany in 1914 upon the road of war … For Germany it was a question of ‘organizing’ Europe. For the United States it is a question of ‘organizing’ the world. History is taking mankind directly into the volcanic eruption of American imperialism…The United States cannot enter a world war, or even make serious preparation for it without assuring first the full domination of the Latin American countries…Washington will not permit…a rebellious attitude. The armies, of course, have a world purpose, but the immediate step is first directed to South America to teach them to obey. For the United States, Latin America is like Austria and Czechoslovakia was to Hitler – a springboard to the larger things…Washington will name the terms.” Leon Trotsky

Just about one half of the year 2016 is in the world’s history books. The 16^th year of the 21^st Century, a century that was supposed to usher in a new era of democracy, opportunity, “green thinking”, and income for all, has thus far been a bust for much of the citizens of the world. Some 40.8 million displaced people roam the continents of the world due to the effects of climate change and the fallout from varying degrees of conflict/war ranging from the War on Terror and War on Drugs, to covert-overt regime changes in Brazil, Ukraine, Egypt, Paraguay, Iraq, Libya and Honduras. Syria remains a work in progress.

US economic statistics mask a crumbling economy and infrastructure. The US is tempting fate with the “up yours” brinkmanship with Russia and China. US encirclement of these two countries with ABM batteries, the training of militaries in countries bordering the two behemoths, and the propaganda campaigns waged against them may not turn out well for anyone on the planet. Russia and China are certain to, legitimately counter each escalatory measure. That’s what nations do when threatened.

Some of the hot words at 2016’s midpoint are brinkmanship, uncertainty, privatization, austerity, suicide, fascist, destabilize, threat, security, hybrid war, propaganda, disparity, racist, displaced, shootings, sanctions, and discrimination. Sides are being taken, and must be taken. Centrism/compromise appears dead: Fascist Right or Neoliberal Left are the options. This seems to be a worldwide disease. In the US presidential election, for example, its Donald Trump representing the former and Hillary Clinton the latter. In the end, Trump may prevail simply because voters want to “see what happens.”

They Don’t Give a Shit

The view from the precariat in the US demonstrates the plight not only of millions of Americans, but many more in similar situations around the globe: Economic and social life is bleak and American officials/office seekers, like their counterparts the world over, are repulsive and indifferent. At the website More Crows than Eagles, this is extraordinarily well-said in a piece titled The Unnecessariat:

“Clinton doesn’t give a shit about me. When Clinton talks about people hurt by the economy, she means you: elite-educated white-collar people with obvious career tracks who are having trouble with their bills and their 401k plans. That’s who boomed under the last president Clinton, especially the 401ks. Me, or the three guys fighting two nights ago over the Township mowing contract, we’re nothing. Clinton doesn’t have an economic plan for us. Nobody has an economic plan for us. There is no economic plan for us, ever. We keep driving trucks around and keep the margins above gas money and maybe take an odd job here or there, but essentially, we’re history and nobody seems to mind saying so. Trump doesn’t have an economic plan for me either. What Trump’s boys have for me is a noose- but that’s the choice I’m facing, a lifetime of grueling poverty, or apocalypse. Yeah I know, not fun and games- the shouts, the smashing glass, the headlights on the lawn, but what am I supposed to do, raise my kid to stay one step ahead of the inspectors and don’t, for the love of god, don’t ever miss a payment on your speeding ticket? A noose is something I know how to fight. A hole in the frame of my car is not. A lifetime of feeling that sense, that “ohhhh, shiiiiiit…” of recognition that another year will go by without any major change in the way of things, little misfortunes upon misfortunes… a lifetime of paying a grand a month to the same financial industry busily padding the 401k plans of cyclists in spandex, who declare a new era of prosperity in America? Who can find clarity, a sense of self, any kind of redemption in that world?”

Yet, “that world” is precisely what neoliberal vultures like Hillary Clinton and her corporate sponsors on Wall Street, in Hollywood and the Defense Industrial Base/Pentagon, on the editorial pages of the Washington Post and New York Times, and in the many Associations and Think Tanks on the East and West coasts seek. It’s the same story in the countries of the European Union. Trump seems to endorse much the same with his call for cuts in Social Security (at least in Europe there are mass movements like Nuit Debout are trying to resist “that world.”)

Eve of Destruction

But to “fight the power” is tough, even in the US Homeland: Look what happened to Flint and Detroit and to pensions, food assistance, and military veterans returning home from war. And when the neoliberal gangs decide that the government of a country needs to be reigned-in, resistance is often futile. And if the gang leader in charge is the United States, the fight is lost cause.

The US remains the dominant global power and, as such, can shape cognitive environments and physical terrain using its extraordinary instruments of national power (INP’s): Diplomacy, Intelligence, Military, Economic, Finance, Law Enforcement, Information and Human Capital. There is a symbiotic relationship between the US government and private sector (academia, media, NGO’s, telecommunications, etc.) elite who design and execute strategies, operations and tactics meant to maintain the supremacy of the INP’s and, hence, America’s supreme position in the world. And, there is, of course, dumb luck like having the Atlantic and Pacific moats protecting fortress USA.

The Honduran government fell in 2009 in a US supported coup. That country’s social and economic fabric has collapsed. Brazil faces a similar plight: Rousseff—Lula supporters will not take the situation lightly. Consider the neoliberal financial forces at work behind the coup in Brazil and US links.

According to Telesur, the “Free Brazil Movement (MBL) is a far-right collective of young people that believe the solutions to the country’s economic problems are based on free-market policies. Fabio Ostermann and Juliano Torres, two of MBL leaders, were educated in the Atlas Leadership Academy, linked to the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, financed by the notorious U.S. businessmen the Koch Brothers. Furthermore, the brothers have millions of dollars invested in the oil industry, which could explain their interest in destabilizing the Brazilian government and Petrobras. Another of the leading groups, Students For Liberty (EPL) – working together with the MBL – is the Brazilian associate of an organization with the same name in the U.S., also financed by the Koch Brothers.

Furthermore, investment banker Hélio Beltrão Filho, the national head of EPL, inherited shares in Grupo Ultra, one of Brazil’s largest holdings. Grupo Ultra provided logistic and financial support to the right-wing military coup in 1964. A third important group involved in the protests is VemPraRua (Come to the streets), which has become the center of controversy in recent weeks. After several journalists investigated the group, revealing that its financial support came from the Study Foundation, which belongs to Brazil’s richest individual, Jorge Paulo Lemann. Lemann is owner of AmBev, the biggest beer production company of Brazil, and owns the Burger King franchise in the country. The businessman has denied taking a stand in Brazilian politics and claims the foundation’s director used it for political purposes. Rodrigo Telles, who runs the foundation, is also an AmBev shareholder…many government supporters see the move as part of a coup, similar to what occurred in Honduras against Manuel Zelaya or in Paraguay against Fernando Lugo.”

Trotsky was right.

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer. Reach him at camus666ster@gmail.com

How wonderful to meet a hero…

Last night I was haunted by the past of the Tiny Russian Village and by my own past…

I think that the village talks to me, because of all I have done in the past. My past is much more than your past. There are very few men or women on this planet that have experienced what I have extrapolated in my past. The path I have walked was deep and dark. It did not allow failure or such would have been death for me. I do not know if there is a Heaven, but I do know that there is a Hell. If one can be without the other than so be it…

I have found heaven in my eyes and she is in Moscow right now. I understand that heaven can only be reached through women, but that does not immigrate the facts into my head; is heaven real or not?

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Hell is another story; I several times held onto the gates opening into Hell and kicked and screamed as I fought my way back…

I understand why some men and or women are not able to cope with what they do and we as a country (USA) hero-worship men and or women who fight in illegal wars all over the world. I find very few people like me that do nothing but scowl and pull away, when people thank you for their service and what heroes we are. You would never even mention the word hero, if you ever walked in their shoes. People are indoctrinated through worship at church, propaganda on the news and in general just as a way of life in the US, to feel awe at a service person of the military. It gets sickening to even converse with starry eyed individuals who immediately spout propaganda about how brave you are and how wonderful to meet a hero…

Maybe I am crazy at times, but if you had the facts like I do about the true state of affairs in American policies, then just maybe you would be crazy also…

If you only knew the truth!

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Wanderers….and I…

It cost me dearly to erase my past in the physical sense, money can buy erasure of records or sealing of files. Shredders were invented for just such things. Key strokes on a computer work as good. I use to be fairly rich in paper money and there are individuals that will, for a price, remove data….But you can never erase the past in your mind and some things creep back to haunt you as you sleep, work, play, dream, talk and walk. Last night the demons decided to visit me and it all started with the souls from the past in the Tiny Russian Village I live in. I have talked before about this past and the discovery of the cemetery of the ancient women’s monastery located here, has woken some spirits to express themselves…

I am here in the Tiny Russian Village for a reason and most of that reason I now realize is for my own healing. Both physically and mentally. Things happened in this village during early Soviet times that bring up my past and when the souls stir, I have memories dredged up and tossed in my face like a sack of grain from ten stories above. Not fun, I can tell you…

I will not go into detail, but I will say that there are ones of long ago, that have been very dissatisfied with the happenings in the village and since 99% of the people on earth are totally out of touch with reality. They never see or hear such dissatisfaction as it is permeated around in given areas…

But, I am here in the village to sooth issues and it works. Sometimes though, I pay a price and last night the price was high…

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Ever wake and expressed gratitude that it was just a dream?

The payment came in reliving my past. Sometimes your dreams have a life of their own and I awoke four times during the night and sighed deep relief to comprehend that I was safe in the Tiny Russian Village…

The night started normal, but soon souls visited and they were from the dead of the village. Nuts huh! They were happier than they have been for a long time, but now they want the saints buried here to be found. That was all fine and I will do as I have done in the past. Dig, dig around for areas that are important and try to point out in whatever way I can here; here it is important. Just like I did with the church area for several years. As I discover their past, I find my past is healed slightly. Thus, they help me in return….What ever works is what I say…

Last night though my dreams became diverted into my past…

The price I paid was to relive some details of my past and I really feel that it is done to allow me to heal. The healing that never came while living in America. Living in America is like a fancy prison and you have all you need, but what you really need is outside the wall around the county. The wall is not physical, for a physical wall is easy to get over or crash through. The wall that surrounds America is propaganda and it is a hard wall to see around and or over….Hotel California says it best…

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
“Relax,” said the night man,
“We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave!”

I dreamed and remembered the pregnant woman being torn into shreds like confetti as the 50 caliber rounds pelted her like rain in a storm. I remember the child who had his hand out and the other hand had a grenade with the pin pulled. I remember the man who I fought hand to hand and he died in my arms, for I did not want to die that day. I remember a target who pushed his sunglasses up on his head as his senses told him death was near and I stared through my scope and the look in his eyes of resignation as he felt what he would never see coming. I remember walking in Agent Orange rain as they cleared the jungle of foliage. I remember most of all men who offed themselves instead of killing one more innocent human. I remember these men treated as heroes just so that everyone back home would call them heroes. Sometimes you would think they were the smart ones……

I remember much on some nights, as last night and when I do it in the Tiny Russian Village, it seems to stay put in my mind and eased in pain for awhile….Old souls help to heal the wounds…

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Will you do me a favor?

Don’t call us heroes! For that implies we did something heroic and invading and killing another country for geopolitical and resources, is not in the least bit heroic……………

WtR

In the Tiny Russian Village we are thriving and so are the Eagles…

The eagles were hunting and they floated long enough for me to get at least a few good images. The first is of him looking off in the distance and if you look closely, the next one he is look straight at me, as I snap his picture…

Hope he was not mad at me! (For being a paparazzi…)

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We have turnips, rutabagas, potatoes, onions, strawberries, tomatoes, garlic and spinach all growing like crazy. Still waiting for carrots (takes awhile,) beets and sweet peas to show…

Boza is being the perfect straw-boss as always… 😉

WtR

Deveselu’s MK 41

The Deveselu’s MK 41 launching systems that makes up the bulk of the missile defense program around and about Europe, the missiles that America says is defensive is easily re-equipped with offensive missiles. Don’t like what I say? Then don’t take my word for this! Take the word of the actual manufacturer of the device…

MK 41 VLS is the only launching system that can simultaneously accommodate the weapon control system and the missiles of every war fighting mission area — anti-aircraft, anti-surface, anti-submarine and land attack. The system is designed to accept any missile into any cell — a capability that provides unparalleled flexibility.

MK41_VLS_factsheet – <<<<< —- Download PDF and read or keep for yourself…

At 7.6 meters long it is capable of launching the largest missiles such as those that support sea-based mid course ballistic missile defense and long-range strike. The 41 VLS can use the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile(ESSM), Tactical Tomahawk, Standard Missile3, Standard Missile 6 and Vertical Launch ASROC- Light weight Hybrid Torpedo. Among many many others…

A VLS allows surface combatants to have a greater number of weapons ready for firing at any given time….Hmm…

I know about these systems personally and they are disguised defensive weapons and are actually particularly made to be offensive. Kinda of Trojan Horse to be exact…

Russia is not the only one who should be worried about such launchers, for the US will stockpile anything that it can launch….just in case! Yes they will, I know…and Europe should be thinking about how America is putting them under a prison situation, much more than Russia or anyone else…

Can it be used to launch a nuke? Well from my past, Yes! We had Lance Missiles smaller than this launcher is capable of using and technology has advanced a bunch, since the 70’s. So I can safely say, Yes it will be able to launch a Nuke (there are different sizes of these launchers as the program has been developed) with very little alterations of its structure or internals… (Lance is around 6.+ meters long and 22 inches in diameter; would fit nice, just nice!)

I got to enjoy a year in Germany because of the Lance Missile…

Europe Take Heed…

To be honest with you! Russia should not be worried about these launchers, who should be worried is Europe and other friends of America. These launchers are a two faced device and can be turned upon a whim against anyone who is not toeing the line to the Almighty American Dream of Supremacy…

Europe watch your back, the enemy is within, not outside your borders…

WtR

Robert J. Samuelson, please…back away from the crack pipe…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-economys-real-drag-us/2016/05/08/c3b6c936-13bc-11e6-93ae-50921721165d_story.html

The economy’s real drag: Us

American consumers aren’t what they used to be — and that helps explain the plodding economic recovery. It gets no respect despite creating 14 million jobs and lasting almost seven years. The great gripe is that economic growth has been held to about 2 percent a year, well below historical standards. This sluggishness reflects a profound psychological transformation of American shoppers, who have dampened their consumption spending, affecting about two-thirds of the economy. To be blunt: We have sobered up.

Me, myself, I, you, them, they, us, those, all of you; are not spending enough money and dammit, start spending our we all go belly up. Just like that dead goldfish in you aquarium….spend, spend and spend you fools and quit saving that cold hard cash for a rainy day…

Yes our media is bought and paid for and has no bearing on what is really happening in the world, much less the west…

WtR

Father Pavel came to the Tiny Russian Village yesterday and they put up a cross in a field…

Oh yes, the note on the cross talks about a cemetery for the monastery from the old days. It talks about male monks, but I know that the monastery was a female monastery?

No says Svetochka, “They talk about female monks cemetery and it talks that male monks put this cross in memory cemetery of female monks and their abbess Evseviya.

Oh well okay, I still told Svetochka that there was a cemetery up top of the village. She never understood how I know this, but I do and maybe the wandering souls will find peace in the fact that they have finally removed the homes that were built on top of it. I also know that several Saints were buried in this cemetery…

Looks like the Orthodox Church has reclaimed this piece of land and pulled it back into the monastery fold. That is good, but the guy living across from the cemetery seems to be unhappy. I doubt anyone realized that a cemetery was actually located here, inside the village borders. Everyone thought that it was only down by the pine forest, in the valley….This is a church cemetery from the olden days…

WtR

Vova stopped by first thing this morning, he has been waiting for Svetochka to leave and now I get to have a Vova a day to keep the doctor away. I pulled a bad tooth for him, I guess he was waiting for Sveta to leave to have me help him. We tied a nylon fishing line around it and I yanked it out. It was loose and ready to come out, it also gave him terrible troubles. Three shots of vodka and a hard yank did the trick. Damn tooth was long and now he has a trophy to show everyone… 😉

I suspect that he will hit the bottle for most of the day… Got to disinfect the mouth you know…

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Boza and I are sad today, but we will get into the swing of things. Fun time is over. Sveta is gone back to Moscow and will check on her mom and family. I am hoping that she can convince her mom to travel to the Crimea and spend some time in a sanatorium. Russians love their sanatoriums for rest and relaxation. Expensive, but full board and lots of delicious food. Also lots of exercise in a good way. The use of a sanatorium is a leftover from the Soviet times and Crimea has some great ones…

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Time to paint, cut grass and cut up firewood. I also have to keep the garden under control, being much bigger this year will make that interesting. It has been a blast having Svetochka here in the village, time to work…

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It seems this is the first time for the women in the military to march in the Victory Day Parade. Sveta was excited about this fact…

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Victory Day Parade 2016! We watched it from the computer in the village and we had hardly any issues with internet…

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Got to go and get to work….Will take pictures soon of what is happening around the village…

WtR