I think of Putin as Russia's Trump. He is hated by all the right people! He is imperfect. But he is likely EXACTLY what they need right now.

The only fear I have is that he WAS listed as a WEF rising star, like Gabby and Vivek were.

I've been burned enough times to know not to be absolute about anything/anyone!

Thanks for the updated info, CapnK.
I've never visited or had any friends in Russia,
but I do have Russian friends/acquaintances in NZ.
Like Ayn Rand, my father's grandparents immigrated to US from Russia (so I must be a Putin sympathizer.;^)

Yeah, let me adjust was one of the most expensive cities to live in, in Europe. Apologies. Post the Ukraine War, things obviously dropped in price.

The only part I disagree with is the tension in the air.
I believe that's always been there. My Russian friends do NOT want me walking around by myself. They remind me that to smile in Russia is dangerous. And I am too free to say high, or acknowledge people. This is a strictly American thing to do in a foreign country. These people keep their heads down, and their emotions in check. Lest you draw unwanted attention. Merely being happy is reason enough for the bad element to want to take it from you.

Yes, the tension is probably higher with the Ukraine issue. But I have to LOVE calling out Russian News Propaganda. LOL, as if it doesn't exist here.

Finally, from my experience. THOSE were NOT the prices I paid. And keep in mind. If you get into a Taxi and speak fluent Russian, like a native returning home. You are charged the fair fare. If you speak English like I do, with rough Russian... Well, then... You pay the US fare, which can be 3-5 times or more. I was shocked to witness this with a Russian friend who hailed the cab and told me to not speak, and act offended. LOL. Worked like a champ, and a $20 cab ride there was $3 back.

My guys who live far outside of Moscow complain loudly about the expense of having to go there to visit the Embassy (which can be a 2 day trip for them, plus a full days drive each way). Said embassy is now closed, and they have to fly out of the country, via Moscow, making it almost a 4 day trip to apply for a visa.

I did my traveling in western Europe in the 90's and it was a great experience.
So your sources don't agree with the report here regarding costs in Moscow?
https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...
(I'm not disagreeing with you, just trying to get better information about Russia. ;^)

From that article:
"Moscow is one of the largest, most advanced and cosmopolitan cities in the world. The standard of living is extremely high.

Yet life in the city is now objectively cheaper than every other major city in the world. And I’m not just talking about Tokyo, New York, London, and Sydney.

Moscow is even cheaper than Sao Paolo. Mumbai. Johannesburg. Bangkok. Even Tbilisi, Georgia. And that’s especially true if you’re spending dollars or euros.

A 2-hour 80 km taxi ride from one of Moscow’s several airports (again, it’s a huge city) cost me just $26. Lunch in a mid-level restaurant with wine was about $15 per person.

Sure, you might pay similar prices in a tier-2 or tier-3 town somewhere in Latin America, but, again, in terms of standard of living, Moscow is on the same level as London.

So at this point I believe it is the most undervalued city in the world."

Pixelate, thank you for sharing that.
Moscow is one of the most expensive cities to live in in Europe.

there are a lot of ignorant people in this country who can't help but think how much better we are, when Russia is doing just fine. In fact, deprivation is their national past time. Our sanctions are not really bothering them. And that pisses off TPTB.

I love my country...
I am ASHAMED of my government.
Good thing I already did my travels before Italy was covered in Graffiti, and the rest of Europe was still worth visiting.

You love this one you missed; https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...

I was in Russia the summer of 2016 - for a climb of Mt. Elbrus. We stayed in St. Petersburg for 3 days and 2 nights at the start of the adventure / went on lots of sight-seeing tours, a lovely city and very safe at night. A full day at The Hermitage. After the Elbrus summit, we were in Moscow for 3 days and 2 nights. My God. What a beautiful city. During our 16 miles of walking around that city, I found only one stray soda can ... that was it for debris. No graffiti. No homeless. Young and older people in good health. Many restaurants open until all hours. We visited Red Square and then the Gum (Government Store).

Our climbing guide told us that prior to The Fall of Communism in Russia, you could not find two loaves of bread in The Gum... when we toured the place, it was brighter and more vibrant with expensive items than any mall in the USA. One smallish beer store had over 250 different brands. There was a store with high end ($200k) autos on revolving platters... we toured the underground. The view of the financial district and all the new skyscrapers was as if to look on something from The Jetsons.

The USA is in a protracted and deliberately designed decline. It has become a nation of weak, soft, frightened, envious, shallow, ignorant, compliant drones. I think that we need a long hard cold winter (10+ years of really tough times) in order to sweep away much of the human debris. Please note - that debris also includes the majority of the political class and the human parasites that populate the administrative bureaus. I see very hard times ahead -- as Rand predicted.

The broken Dog Treat "You may be entitled to compensation." Top one, right there -- it will be making the rounds tonight.
Thank you, Carl!

Tiny Tiptoe on the chest harmonica? LMAO

I'd totally go see that half-time show. The trick would be skipping the rest... ;)

Wow!

Favs ... forgetting wife's birthday (so true), nine lives suicidal cat, gay lion, and dog attorney ... man, these are great! Keep us laughing Carl!

About died laughing! Good batch, wish I had inflatable furniture, but with my bunch it wouldn't work. My big gray cat grabbed a 6' long string of packing balloons and dragged them into the bedroom where he and his cronies popped and ripped it to shreds :)

Good story, Thanks

Yeah, it's improved a LOT.
One story she shared was about a Coke-a-Cola Factory in Moscow. The Mafia shows up and explains that they will be by on a regular basis for their "Protection Payment". The arrogant manager chased them away and said we are "Coke-a-cola, we don't play those games!"

The next day, they showed up and fired an RPG into the building, and Coke Left the country. Their Cola was being shipped in from Germany after that.

One of the problems, according to her, was that when Coke called the police, they basically said "Well, you should pay... Or you can pay us?" LOL. Her point was that they still had a lot of corruption.

She spoke intelligently about the USA, and was amazed at so many things, and she made us understand that while our governments HATE each other... The citizens of Russia do not hate Americans... They are more hopeful to be like us.

That blew my mind... But it was true. I quickly realized over the next decade that the Average Russian was MORE American than the average American. (We were being dumbed down, while they were throwing off the shackles of communist oppression and becoming free and challenging things).

The world became a much smaller place on those visits. And the young lady studying dentistry I met at a bar in the Astoria Hotel... Her basic understanding of Physics was beyond that of our average engineering students. She KNEW this stuff cold. No calculators. Strong reasoning skills. And easy on the eyes! LOL.
(But I was such a geek... I picked her brain, and left by myself. My buddies were explaining all the clues I missed, like the hand on my knee... LOL I still laugh, I was just so excited to have an intelligent conversation, I was not thinking about anything else. Even if I knew, though, we were heavily warned about the many scams where someone follows us to our room, and robs us, I would not have brought her up if she had asked).

Hound, Wolfe and Chase. Is that in the same office complex as Dewey, Cheatum and Howe?

Interesting. You backed up what Tucker said about their big cities.

OUC Thanks for an awesome pack on Friday.
Made my weekend!

In the 1990s, we went to Russia, and our translator worked at the UN translating for dignitaries. She had her own car and driver, and we paid her well by Russian standards, and told her "we wanted to understand this communism, the collapse, etc." and literally handed her a few hundred dollar bills. To break it down for us. Not to embellish... But to explain. The first thing she did was give some money to the driver so he would leave the car and get a meal on us, he thanked us as he left... Nice..

We got a lot of details. But she explained the BIGGEST changes came when the young ladies put their foot down. They would NOT date boys who lived at home with no chance of getting on their own. There was often an approach of waiting for the parents to die to get the apartment.

She said the younger generation just stopped accepting bad behavior. Guys who drink and don't care, and are generally disrespectful. She said the more intelligent guys (not the better looking), instantly became commodities. With MANY of them getting married in University, or right after.

I am thinking about that in the USA... As we have stumbled in EXACTLY the opposite direction.

She gave us examples of old soviet stories explaining how working hard is stupid, etc. etc. And that modern Russians now separate themselves from those who live/breathe that.
"They pretend to pay us, so we pretend to work!" was a common mantra. The young started to say "That's why we won't work for THOSE companies"...

I found it interesting. It was still early. But as I have visited a few times after that, the progress TOWARDS Capitalism has surprised me. To the point that Moscow is CLEANER than our big cities. It might be safer, but it was a wee bit UNSAFE when we were there as foreigners.

Anybody remember Ludowici GA? Not only did they have the famous stoplight, but 25 MPH signs that were only two feet above the ground. They didn't bother anyone who was local but if you had a funny license plate they nabbed you. One day Lester Maddox with his funny Governor's plate went through.

Me dino done brang evidence as Smokey Sheriff Justice would say~~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlc...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF...
So thet thar dude in ther meme him be thet thar Tiny Tim.
Yet havin' face planted both? Naw, I wouldn't watch either in no half time show. Changed me dino mind me done did.

Ahhh Scotty did like his Saurien Brandy didn't he. Helped himunderstand things under the hood of the Starship. Another great group OUC

Love the exploding couch! All dryers should have clear doors so you can watch cats do the hurdles!

Is that really Tiny Tim? Looks like Weird Al Yankovic to me. They ever put Weird Al in the halftime show, I'll watch it for sure!

Just had a major snow storm no where for my pup to do her thing even with shoveling places. Told her to do it on the sidewalk would pick it up walked in snow storm looking for place it wouldn't hit her butt. Wednesday 6:30 PM till Friday 8:20 AM....yeah....both....on sidewalk but that was the deal. She got 3 treats!!