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Remsomm's avatar

Looking good mr Macfarlane!

Remember not to idolize either of them too much. You know how so many are looking at Vladimir Putin as the saviour/antidote to the west.

When he doesn't fufill their ridiculous expectations eg. nuking Washington DC, nuking Israel, saving Syria, crushing Ukraine in 3 months, raising our standards of living, and basically creating heaven on earth...they get bitter and blame the man for everything and then some.

In that sense Xi Jinping has dodged the bullet.(Oops probably shouldn't say something like that with the amount of assasinations in 2000's)

They are public servants in the true sense of the word, devoted to their rather terrible jobs. I just don't see much glamour in all of it.

Thank our lucky stars they both are there, though, to counteract the insidious evil creep of whatever it is that throws its shadow over this beautiful little planet of ours.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Putin and Xi have their failings, as well do. That's the problem with being human. But it is important to understand them, why they do as they do. The fact that they are quite different people is helpful, in terms of comparison and contrast. There is no saving the West. And no antidotes unfortunately.

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Tom Welsh's avatar

Why do people drink and smoke too much? (Any smoking may be too much). For the same reason they take drugs in the West - and elsewhere. Because life is unpleasant or unbearable, and they don't enjoy living it. The better life gets - and, mainly, the greater the constructive part they can play in it - the less people will need those forms of escape. Although I hate to see anyone smoking, as my father and all four grandparents died painfully of cancer, I do not plan to stop drinking wine or enjoying a wee dram.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I used to both drink and smoke. For a lot of people, a wee dram is good. I used to keep a bottle of drambuie in my desk in my office when I was teaching at the university in Canada.

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El dragon's avatar

This is what I found about cigarettes: Nicotine releases dopamine in the brain, which can trigger positive feelings. People with depression often have low dopamine levels, so they may use cigarettes to temporarily increase their dopamine supply.

BTW. I like how George Galloway described Russia before Putin. "...in a gutter, drunk. Its pocket picked by the Westerners..."

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

That's a great quote from George - thank you. The dopamine system is not well understood. My version of ASD affects dopamine, also affecting my reaction of alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs. I also have low cortisol in the morning. So almost never attended morning lectures in the University.

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Tom Welsh's avatar

That sounds exactly right about cigarettes. Besides, they are cheap, convenient to smoke, and until recently carried no stigma. Going for a smoking break at work is often permitted, whereas going for a belt of vodka - not so much. Heroin, cocaine, even pot - not at all (Sherlock Holmes to the contrary notwithstanding).

As well as picking Russia's pocket, Westerners stole its clothes and shoes.

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Franz Kafka's avatar

They are NOT cheap! and they are no longer convenient to smoke and now carry a terrible stigma, rightly.

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El dragon's avatar

Regarding the smoke breaks. At work I see a good number of young people smoking. I am talking in their 20s.

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JennyStokes's avatar

I still smoke and I am 75yrs old. Yes it's a drug oh wow I love it. I have a small amount of emphysemia in my lungs.

I am going to die anyway.

What do you Americans do?

We drink red wine mostly good for everyone.

Strange how the French live so long.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Oh, Jenny -- never say die! We all die -- sometime. I had a couple of friends die in high school, more in college. Then came the Vietnam War. A little wine is OK - except for me, maybe, with my genetics. For me, alcohol is a serious drug. The gene is DrD4-R7 which affects dopamine levels. https://www.verdict.co.uk/drd4-7r-wanderlust-gene/ the gene has various names and is associated with a lot of other genes in some (but not all) types (100 or more) of ASD people.

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Tom Welsh's avatar

Why do you keep calling me an American? I have never insulted you. 8-)

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Tom Welsh's avatar

Possibly a sign that they are under unpleasant stress, but don't know any way to escape. Or maybe they do it because their parents didn't.

"Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made".

- Immanuel Kant

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Omigod. I am not even timber. I am a crooked branch. So that' s why I can't spell.

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JennyStokes's avatar

Smoking is rebellion!

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Smoking is kamikaze.

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Spercepolnes's avatar

From 1920 - 1950 maybe ... then , like all rebellions, became mainstream ....

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JennyStokes's avatar

I smoke.

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Remsomm's avatar

So do I!

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JennyStokes's avatar

So do you what?

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Remsomm's avatar

Colts Natural Tobacco, hand rolling :)

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JennyStokes's avatar

Never could manage to roll my own cigs!

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Tom Welsh's avatar

Your choice! I smoked, briefly, at university, but stopped abruptly when I had to pay for cigarettes. Seriously, though, while there is always an element of chance, I think it's likely to harm you.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

I have had every bad habit known to man -- and a few known only to animals. Also made every mistake.

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Truth Seeking Missile's avatar

What you wrote is true but is limited in explaining the major impact Putin has had Russians and that is spiritual impact. Patriarch Krill gave a speech about how the church and government worked closely to bring Russia back from the abyss after the soviet fall, please search for that; if I dig it up I will send it. Putin has a genuine and astute sense of Russia's place as a spiritual nation and recognizes how its people's spiritual heritage brings them together, even though there are so many religions at work there.

When the soviet union collapsed it happened not just in political and economic realms but in a spiritual realm. When the western parasites arrived, there was little to stop them. Putin recognized that Russians had to reconcile their broken, brutal Soviet past and their strong Russian culture and heritage to create a new nation, politically, economically, and spiritually. Putin, Krill, and others helped to foster that reconciliation with public dialogue and openness about the past and moving forward. Contrast that for example to America's genocide of natives and our slave history and how we still haven't fully reconciled them and eliminated their corrosive effects on the soul of our country. Very difficult for nations to maintain their souls, and Putin's major work was to save Russia's.

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Franz Kafka's avatar

The Moscow Times (thankfully now more or less gone from Russia) hated both Russia and the 'times' in which Russia was in the ascendant. I had caught the dead-rat scent of The Moscow Times from abroad. Then I visited Russia and came face to face with the Beast... no, with the mouse that roared. I was a tourist in a boutique hotel and I picked up a copy, for free, there was no charge. That way the number of readers could never be traced.

It was of inconsequential, nay, emaciated girth, no more than 8 or 10 pages about four of which were taken up with advertising of sexual services, in all 63 genders known to Canada. The remainder only made sense, as the paper was only printed in English, as a part of Operation Mockingbird - articles planted by the CIA in unamerican locations to be used as confirmation for articles planted by the CIA in the United Snakes of America's CIA-controlled media. In other words 'Operation Mockingbird,' if not in the flesh, at least in the ink-stained, pulp paper.

It was, I suppose, useful for the sexual services, which could be found on the internet in more graphic and perhaps reliable detail but some 'establishments' could be seen from the windows of the hotel.

The articles were of the sort that could be found in the Washington Post and the New York Times and would often appear in those examples of the Western lugenpresse as sources and citations.

I am happy that The Moscow Times was given the heave-ho at last. Not sure about just what harm was done by it but the loss of even one homeless person's handout from a member of the benevolent bourgeoisie was not worth the many years of lying bullshit purveyed by the oligarchic scumbags who financed The Moscow Times. The times which were spent by me in Moscow are immeasurably... well... the same both before and after its absence, though something has changed deeply to allow that dirty rag to finally be tossed back to from whence it came in the West.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

"It was of inconsequential, nay, emaciated girth, no more than 8 or 10 pages about four of which were taken up with advertising of sexual services, in all 63 genders known to Canada:

Good to know that Canada has contributed SOMETHING to global culture.

Great post.

Now that Trudeau has resigned -- he has a future in sexual services in Canada's other contribution to world civilization -- PornHub.

"Oh Canada...."

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Franz Kafka's avatar

Wow! Amazing article. And I do not think that is the high-quality cheap Tequila in Mexico talking. One thing struck me on first scanning after seeing Putin at the open coffin: It is no longer just Russians who value the authenticity of Putin's emotions and manhood. The Sylvester Stallone-George Clooney model has feet of not just clay, but sand.

It is always lamented that Russia's lack of success in the Information Wars is a huge drawback.

I am reminded more and more of Marx's (Groucho) edict: "I don't want to belong to a club that would have me."

Putin and Xi, as opposed to Macron, Trudeau and Biden (pardon me while I mouth vomit) are gradually acquiring the more intelligent and mentally adequate adherents. It may take longer, like the Russian liberation of Ukraine, but it cuts deeper and is longer-lasting.

As the Tequila here is so cheap, I offer myself up to do proof-reading for you. I am not a pro at this (though my son sort of is) but if you need some help to catch the more glaring typos and errors I am your man.

Warning! The Tequila here is cheaper than Chappy.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Thank you Franz. I would take you up on that offer. I proofread, reading aloud, but the errors slip through. An issue is my constant re-writing. Which generates more mistakes! Especially in the Special Articles - which are so long-- and go through up to 20 or 30 interations.

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CARLOS 10019's avatar

I realized how thoroughly I had been lied to about Putin when I spent close to 4 hours watching his speech just prior to the invasion of Ukraine. Putin was clearly extremely nervous, his breathing was shallow, he had a variety of tics, nothing that would telegraph his insecurity except to trained body language experts (I am not one.) I made a spreadsheet of every point in the long speech.. because I very much wanted to understand Russia and Putin's reasons. At that point I'd barely begun to understand the Maidan coup, the corruption in Ukraine, etc.

What makes Putin a great leader, to me, is that he made the decision for a war with huge consequences even though unsure. And that he managed to hide is insecurity so well. It look like he made the correct decision. Russia is far more powerful and stable as a result, and when the victory is complete, it will have beneficial consequences for decades, if not centuries for Russia.

Putin's intellect is without match in the West. It took him far too long to understand the Empire of Lies and the Scorpion Ball, but good outcomes for his country and its citizens has been the North Star of his rule. We are ruled by toxic, parasitic elites. Russia and China by benevolent elites (for the most part, at least at the top.)

Who will win is clear.. unless our demonic elites destroy us all.

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Truth Seeking Missile's avatar

Here are two articles focused on Russia's spiritual heritage and growth. The first are speeches given by Putin and Patriarch Krill together, reflecting on the history of the church in Russia, its fall to communism, its rise with the new State in the 90s, and the spiritual challenges lying ahead for Russia.

The second link is an interview in Forbes France with Patriarch Krill centered on Russia's spiritual challenges and growth.

Worth a read to understand how Putin's commitment to a State that supports the spirituality of Russia's people underpins the nation's current recovery and growth.

Putin and Krill

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/56255

Krill and Forbes

http://www.patriarchia.ru/en/db/text/5856104.html

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Franz Kafka's avatar

Will it still be called the Moscow Times when it is published and distributed in the Red Light district of some shitty Dutch harbor-town?

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𝓙𝓪𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓵𝓯𝓮's avatar

You have the best role models🥰 Off to a great start! Looking forward to reading the rest😊

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JennyStokes's avatar

Julian I detected some grammatical errors.

In my opinion you need a 'centre.'

I can help you edit.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Thank you. Please point out the errors.

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JennyStokes's avatar

Really just typos I think.

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Jonathan Hearn's avatar

I hope the Xi part of the treatise explores in detail the truth of the Chinese COVID connection and it's western described horrific lockdowns. Theories of Brics being a ruse for the bankers to jump ship etc etc etc....

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JennyStokes's avatar

Jonothan Hearn.

Does it occur to you that MSM (Mainstream Media) USED the Chinese with regard to Covid?

The news that YOU read coming out of China is not always correct.

Does it occur to you: Liberty Bell/Twin Towers/JFK assassination/Covid was actually manufactured in the USA/UK/EU?

Have you been to China? If not go and look around/the Chinese are NOT sheep like the USA

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Jonathan Hearn's avatar

Lots of things " occur" to me. The whole role of China needs in-depth clarification . Rather than asking me what occurs to me please tell us what you think. PS I hardly ever come across MSM ...unless I am being fooled of course.

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Wilhelmus Klostermann's avatar

Promising, thank you!

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

Sorry for the typos. The sneak in whenever I rewrite.

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Julian Macfarlane's avatar

It's a draft, of course. So will probably change later! LOL

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