Let the Wildberries Burn

In spite of the fact that material and moral support from the U.S. government approaches next to nothing in its life-and-death struggle with Russia, Ukraine perseveres doughtily, resiliently, innovatively, a continuing example of national righteousness and physical courage. Recent news reports and critical battlefield assessments even grant these Slavic brothers and sisters an edge, an advantage with regard to the war’s on-goingness. I suspend my own pessimistic tendencies to think so, or at least entertain that possibility. Something I can do, among my small, small efforts. Spectate and hope.

Mister Nobody Against Putin

Four years later, the war in Ukraine drags on with no end in sight. As some wars do. Stalemate: brutal invasion vs. heroic virtue + timorous/insufficient support. Well over a year after the infamously duplicit peace-maker failed to resolve matters in a promised day, the drones continue their work, and Russian soldiers continue to die. Missiles continue to launch, and Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer the consequences, death, injury, and cold.

Long live Ukraine. (Which might require Putin to die. Think about it, Vladimir. It is an off-ramp of sorts.)

Trumpushka

So reported The Beast: 

The Kremlin’s chief propagandist could hardly contain his excitement during his Tuesday show, The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, reveling in U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest flurry of imperial aspirations and destructive moves against Western alliances.

Decorated state TV host Vladimir Solovyov danced, pranced, and praised Russia’s beloved “Trumpushka,” a man he has previously described as “our agent Trump.”

Now, dementia could be a part of Trump’s increasing instability and disinhibition, but it remains a reasonable and foundational inference that Trump’s pro-Russian agency has much more to do with Putin’s owning him. And that ownership threatens not only Ukraine, but Europe, and America as well. 

Here in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we’re being occupied by our fledgling dictator’s not-so-secret police.