Dear friends,
WOW! I truly did not expect such a tsunami of emails and offers of support. I can’t even begin to tell you how touched I am. I am especially touched by those who never contacted me in the past and who decided to reach out. All I can say is that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Right now I don’t have the time or energy to send anything but very short replies, so I want to use this page to reply to all of you know and clarify a few things:
Staying in touch with you
First, in most of my short replies I asked you to stay in touch with me. I totally mean that. Right now I need to focus my tiny energy reserves on a clean shutdown of the blog, but I would very, very much like to stay in contact with as many of you as possible.
Also, I want to spend much more time playing improvised music (of various styles) on guitar (I mostly play Jazz, but also many other styles). Any Florida based musicians out there in need of a guitarist to play just for the joy of playing? If yes, please email me! :-)
Blog archiving
I am getting A LOT of offers/suggestions about archiving the blog. So here I want to give you a few general replies bullet-style:
- Everything I posted on the blog was licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0 International license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Which means that ANYBODY can copy and past and even modify ANYTHING I have ever posted. There is no need to ask for permission or get my approval or anything like that.
- In practical terms this means this: if you can grab it all (or parts) and repost it elsewhere, anywhere, you will have my eternal gratitude.
- Furthermore, I personally would prefer that the archive be available on as many sites as possible (for obvious redundancy reasons). I would therefore not agree to grant anybody “exclusive rights” or anything like that.
- Please notice that while I never monetized the blog, you are not under any obligation to follow my example, but only as long as you don’t claim any exclusive copywrong “rights” or object on anybody else doing the same thing (or not).
Some of you have made me very specific offers and I wanted you all to know all of the above before I replied to your proposals individually (please give me some time, say 48 hours, for that).
Money issues and unemployment
As you all know, I never monetized the blog. In 2007 I was still homeschooling my three kids while my wife was working. Then, with the homeschooling done, and all my kids in college, I worked with my wife and also did some over the phone interpretations (the worst job in my life!) to bring some money in. Then you, the readers, suggested that I accept donations, which I reluctantly did, but you were right, your donations made it possible for me to dedicate much more time to the blog and to plug the holes in my family’s budget.
Since I am closing the blog, I am now asking all of you to stop your donations, including direct donations by wire, sending me checks, Patreon and Subscribe star. There is no need for anybody to donate to a closed blog.
That being said, it is true that my family and I will take a major financial hit and that we will struggle to make ends meet living again on one person’s income only. I therefore want to put it out there that from March 1st I will be unemployed and interested in any remote work offers as long as they 1) have no relationship of any kind to the blog or current events and 2) take into account my very diminished energy supply (which I hope to get back to normal levels by this summer or even before) 3) do not break any US laws.
One thing I would love to do is get a teaching position somewhere, even in a highschool, as long as this can be done remotely (I cannot travel at all right now). Yes, the Q&A I did with Cynthia McKinney’s students at North South University gave me A LOT of joy and satisfaction: it was just so refreshing to speak with students from Zone B!!!
I know, in the current economy this is almost ridiculous but, hey, I had to mention that here and, who knows, maybe there is a slot for me somewhere? I know for a fact that God *does* work in mysterious and amazing ways.
Guest authors
Here I ask for your patience, I am getting some very interesting offers and suggestions which I need to think through. Please just know that I am not forgetting this issue!
Video Q&A
I already got a few questions, so I will repeat it here: please EMAIL me any question you want about ANY topic, music, religion, past experiences, questions about past articles and even including any (reasonable) personal questions. Just please write “Q&A with Andrei” in the subject line.
That’s it for me right now. I will keep posting such “shutdown updates” until March 1st.
My immense gratitude and love to you all,
Andrei
PS: FYI – I also plan a few more posts on topics I never touched before, but which I will address before my final bow up and goodbyes. Please stay tuned!
1. The elephant in the room, how is your health? I understand privacy but we care.
2. I’ve always been curious about your view of Catholicism and this is my final chance to ask about it.
I’m a Protestant, I have no dog in this fight. I was raised Russian Orthodox church but felt stifled by it, especially since I do not speak Russian. But I have no hard feelings about it. They are among the sweetest people I have met.
Catholicism and Orthodoxy look close to me. They both believe in Apostolic succession. The Catholics believe that the Pope holds the seat of Peter and has final authority over the church. This looks marginal to me, is there more to it? Thanks in advance.
1) the white coats expect me to survive :-)
2) I think that “Roman Catholics” are neither Roman nor Catholics. I call them “Latins” and I do believe that the Papacy is a false, heretical, entity.
It has been a formidable intellectual journey to read and be part of the blog. I wish you the best Andrei and I hope you don’t stop sharing your analysis in the future. For our part, those of us who believe that the Anglo-Zionist empire can still be stopped will continue to participate in various ways to achieve this.
Andrey hello!
I want to keep all the Orthodox vignettes!
How do I download them?
right click and “save as” will let you copy the page or save a offline version, but the easiest way is to use archive.ph and bookmark the pages.
https://archive.ph/wip/79bb7
Here i just archived vignette no7 as an example.
Per
maybe somebody can download them and make them into one PDF?
I would very much appreciate that (it is easy, but I am swamped right now)
With an open mind you can always start a new blog and see that as sort of new job. You mention teaching so a blog about history can be very entertaining and useful for loads of people. Don’t mention anyting for the last hundred years and you’re fine. Ancient History. Who wouldn’t subscribe for that.
So sad to hear this site may be shutting down. Still processing what this means to me … to the community … to this world so devoid of light.
This comment is only related to archiving.
Several have mentioned archive.org. Just go there and type in thesaker.is in the search. You will see a timeline. Click on the most recent you see (to include most recent content). I believe the site is completely archived there.
There are several problems.
1. performance is slow
2. difficult to search for and reach old articles because the dropdown box with previous dates links to current site, not archived site on archive.org. One solution is to create a page with actual html links (not dropdown boxes) to all the previous months/articles. At least we can go back in time (if we remember the date) to find an article. But search still won’t work.
3. archive.org is based in US. They technically could delete the archive for this site but that would contradict their mission. If The Saker trust Google enough to have his email there, I think we can trust archive.org?
That’s some of the technicalities of archiving at archive.org. But note this is just for history purposes – to make sure the content is not lost. But if this site is just deleted then, it will be almost impossible to resurrect. Someone has to keep all the wordpress files on the backend to have a chance of resurrecting this in the future…
Lastly, I leave the Saker and community with a question. Who does the Saker belong to? Of course, Andrei’s sweat and labor (and intellect and wisdom) makes a big part of it. Without it, there is no Saker. But the Saker is not just Saker. It’s everyone here. Without this community, Andrew couldn’t have done what he has.
In this world of darkness, can we as a community support this site? Guest writers can go elsewhere, sure. But people can’t find each other. It will take a long time, if ever, to regroup. Is there a better way? Can we keep this site and transform it into something else without Andrei’s active participation?
Andrei has already given us his all. He has been a gift and blessing. But to just archive things … and disband this community … such a travesty … tragedy …
archive.ph is way faster and easy to search.
Archive.org has been known to remove content at the behest of the powers that be.
Dear Andrei.
You had no reason to be surprised by the response from the community.
Your blog has touches many more people (including the non-commenters) than you think.
What you see is only the tip of the iceberg. The “silent” majority is hidden by “High Tech”.
What a great Idea for you to take up playing music again.
I´m also a musician and enjoy the creative gatherings of Musicians, even for only hours each week, to take my mind off the horrors surrounding our daily lives.
Your 15 yearlong Saker Archive is historic evidence of what could be called: The Reason for WWIII.
The Saker Archive could also be important evidence in a future court battle.
The EU is already suggesting a Human Rights tribunal against leaders of Russia for war crimes in Ukraine. You blog is time stamped and has all the crucial information regarding the events leading up to the Russian Special operation in Ukraine.
The Saker Archive could be a potential future fortune, thus I suggest that you keep the rights to the blog.
In the meantime don’t stop taking donations, including direct donations.
After all you and your family deserve all the financial help you can get.
I’m Shure that both God and the Saker community will find a solution for you and your family.
Maybe even a Job teaching the next generation of students on Line.
Bedst regards.
Look! You do a great job! You provide information that is a far cry from the information from the lying, cheating, manipulative, neoliberal, neocon West. You have made me less dumb!
Respect Andrei! Go well, good man.
I see people are archiving The Saker posts already👍
https://archive.ph/thesaker.is
almost 2500 hits.
So as long as archive ph exists there will be The Saker posts there.
Wonderful!
I very much hope they keep doing that
Sad to see you go. Despite our differences on some issues I’ve always viewed this site as a great window into the pro-Russia, eastern orthodox world. I will miss it. Take care of your health and family.
If your health and time permit I hope you consider a Substack blog for once a month postings or whatever is possible.
Thanks
Thank you Saker for all these years of providing all of us with this wealth of information. My best wishes in health, wealth and happiness to you and your family. In regards to improving your health, look up a guy called Gary Null. He’s an alternative health practitioner who’s been around for a very long time. He runs health retreats through the year in Florida where many people have testified to solving their very chronic and even terminal health issues. All health problems can be reversed. You just need the will and discipline. And also the desire to think outside the box in regard to medicine.
However I am mainly writing this comment to ask why you don’t consider working for RT. You’d be the perfect analyst for their platform. Who knows they may even give you your own show. Obviously you’d have to relocate to Russia but it seems to me you don’t have any plans to make such a move.
Additionally, is there anyone in Russia (or even China for that matter) that can use your services and/or this site?
Good luck in your future endeavours.
I cannot work for anybody located in countries “sanctioned” by the US government.
Man, I can’t even continue sending donations to help the Amur Tigers and Amur Leopards! “Sanctioned” has such a holier-than-thou sound to it: more like a boycott forced even onto unbelievers.
https://conservewildcats.org/portfolio/amur-tiger-and-amur-leopard-conservation/
Dear Andrei,
How can I thank you for so much you have made available to everyone. It truly has been an education, and expanded my awareness in more ways than I could imagine before I found your site.
I have a suggestion that might help you and everyone else. I know you are very proficent in a number of languages, including Russian. One book which is not available in English is “Two Hundred Years Together” by Solzhenitsyn. Might I suggest a translation arranged with his estate or publishers. Perhaps we could help by arranging a subscription to be paid by many of us here, and others, perhaps like Dickens did. It could help you and your family with income and provide a great resource for knowledge and discussion to many. I would be very glad to help by paying a subscription.
Sincere thanks.
Randolph
Gosh, great minds think alike.
Yours and mine, that is!
I hadn’t seen this comment but I had he same idea.
You can find Solzhenitsyn’s (SUPERB!!) “200 years together” on the Internet translated by volunteers
Very interesting. Quoting Solzhenitsyn in a pro Russian Telegram channel got me chastised!
I’ve been following this blog for thirteen or fourteen years but I’m not really that sorry about it shutting down. I’ve come to much the same conclusions as Andrei about prioritising health and family, and also about how to best adapt to the challenging terrain that lies just over the horizon.
On 9/11 I was visiting a Buddhist monastery, where a television set was wheeled in to show the news to the centenarian abbot, who was renowned for hardly ever speaking. When he saw the plane crash he put down his prayer beads for a moment and said, in a truly ominous voice, ‘Now it begins’.
I was working at a software engineer in Switzerland at the time and I remember thinking the exact same thought…
I was thinking along those lines, but when the first tower fell straight down, I was very surprised. Then the second one did the same and I knew.
What did you know Virgil? (love that name from one of my most favourite movies Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, In The Heat of the Night, they call me Mr Tibbs.
I knew straight away that David Copperfield & The Mossad had highjacked CNN.
Yes Hajduk, the abbot was right, the apocalypse is only the beginning of the end, not the end itself! But it started 10.000 years ago!
Francois Couplan said “in the first seed planted, was the germ of the atomic bomb”. It was in the Neolithic era, when man invented livestock and agriculture. He has thus declared war on the living world to appropriate the planet for himself. He invented domestication and civilization, which led to modernity and to the degeneration of the human species which lost its wisdom and its spirituality. Probably an evolution error. This diabolical civilization will disappear. God is patient and silent, only our inner faith can save us.
That would leave a deep impression.
I was on a three-day trek east of Baikal, blissfully unaware of anything beyond eyesight. When they told me the news, still days away from a TV, I broke down and cried.
By coincidence I was preparing to perform my first Shinto ceremony. I recalled then that my first dream of the year had been flying over an ominously barren Mt. Fuji, dropping a bomb into the crater, and succeeding. Then I realized my dream had not been about my own success.
Hello Hajduk
I had this feeling but the incident you narrated describes exactly what i could not find words for.
Can you please tell which country that monastry was in?
Thank You.
As soon as the ‘Eye of Mordor’ identifies genuinely holy men and women their lives are in peril, so I’m afraid that I cannot provide you with any locational information, except to say that the monastery in question belongs to the Tibetan Gelugpa sect.
Andrei,
I have worked mostly remotely as a translator, punctuated by a few face-to-face language classes, for more than 20 years due to an environmental sensitivity that causes neurological and immunological issues. The problem I’m seeing is computer technology taking over every sort of job that can be performed remotely and eliminating many that currently require a physical human being. A lot of tech geeks are losing their fine jobs now.As per WEF, we are all to be warehoused someplace where we won’t get into trouble and drugged I suppose until we are happy.
Maybe others here can help you better, but my advice is to simplify your life as much as possible so you can get by on a reduced income. Put your health first. I don’t know about you, but I feel awful sitting even at this hardwired, RF-shielded, grounded computer. (I have recently learned about oxalate overload. It can screw up your calcium chemistry. If you have not heard of it, look into Sally K. Norton’s work on this subject, and consider whether it might apply to you. I am feeling a bit better, with less brain fog and arrhythmia.)
I really see simplifying and returning to basics as the only way to ride out the coming storm. The current war is multifactorial. A whole lot of crises are coming together at once, because until now there was always leeway in some other direction to sweep the accumulating problems under the carpet. I consider the new AI bot to be mostly a psy-op to induce the latest panic. There are others who see demonic influence. Either way, batten down the hatches.
A friend of mine in Japan has started a prayer service specifically for people suffering from physical ailments that sound like yours (energy issues, among them). You’ve requested our prayers in the past, so I am adding your name to my list that I recite on Sundays. My name was on that list, with multiple people joining in to pray, and I think as a result I encountered the information on oxalate overload (for a brief span of time I could access Dr. Mercola’s website).
I will continue indefinitely to pray daily for “The People of the Saker” (phrasing stuff in ancient Japanese is a challenge) to be guided, blessed and protected in their quest for “Peace under Heaven.” But I always state that “The Divine Powers Know Best (Kannagara, Kami no Manimani).” We are challenged to deal with life on Earth. I am very happy that you have Faith.
Hoping that we will hear from time to time how you are doing.
Pat
Patricia, you are right about Shugendō, it was suppressed because of its great beauty and strength. You posted on the subject a while back, and I meant to comment at the time. It’s an extremely obscure subject but it’s one that’s dear to me. May Heaven bless you and the other ‘People of the Saker’ with good health, long life and every good fortune.
Thank you, Hajduk!
Indeed, Japan’s rulers go through spasms of suppressing religion. Tokugawa Ieyasu’s brutal suppression of Christians is most famous, but they were not alone: Oda Nobunaga burned down an entire Buddhist temple full of monks and scholars and children. Shugendo was banned with less bloodshed during the Meiji period 140 some-odd years ago, but Buddhism was taking a turn again to be suppressed after being the basis of governance for over 250 years. All Shugendo practitioners (syncretic Buddhism-Shinto) were required then to declare which they were going to be Shinto or Buddhist. Most went with Buddhism, and even now have very few traces of Shinto influence. The one I was invited into, the Fuji Confraternities, went with Shinto. They memorize a number of Buddhist sutras, but don’t recite them during services.
I’ll keep hanging out at Ecosophia, so you know where to find me.
Domo Pat!
Andrei,
I am downloading your Christian Vignette series. I wound up too busy when you first published it to read through it properly, for which I apologize.
Best wishes, Saker! I’ve been an avid reader of alternative press sites and blogs since September, 2001. I started reading your blog back in 2014. I will definitely not forget it.
As for finding remote work, that is something I am not super familiar with, so I can not offer any good advice. I do know that there are some (low paying) remote call center type jobs out there, but those are not very pleasant or rewarding to deal with. Hopefully your health situation will improve and that will open up many more opportunities for you.
Dear Andrei,
So sad that you are closing the blog and going through a rough time, hope things turn around and you keep writing and contributing. Since you have mentioned religion, may I humbly ask if you have read about Shia faith? There are many learned and god believing people who visit you blog and have faith with open mind to read about others. After Prophet Mohammad, the division( of Sunni and Shia) and continuation of his progeny through Ali and his descendants is itself a miracle. The sacrifice, piety, humanity, love of god and devotion by the Imams who were true divine successor of Prophet is amazing. Their intellectual discussions and humility is rare to find in any family. I would like your take on them as you are a genius and also a critical thinker. The simple question is- If there is a merciful god and he wants us to stay on the right path then why he doesn’t have someone guiding us all the time? If there is any divine person, then who is he?
Yes, I have read quite a lot about the Shia faith and I have a HUGE admiration for the piety and courage of the Shia people!
and yes, every place is Kerbala and every day is Ashura!
Your blog has been a part of my life. Loosing it, feels like getting old.
Why don’t you turn on your archive to Moon Of Alabama or have the guest authors take over their own section each?
Especially in this disinformation age, you are NEEDED!!!!!!!!!
You will be missed, in case you don’t change your mind; and leave😭
Wish you lots of strength. I once posted my personal info, by accident, on your blog. You were very responsive and immediately responded to my request (for obvious reasons, being a neighbor of Langley; literally).
Maintaining a blog is difficult but please let us know where; and under which pseudonym you SHALL post comments, once in a while, when more energetic.
Things happen and your input would be appreciated, even if it would be a brief comment or a referral to an outside source.
One word of advice: please ALWAYS assume that ANYTHING hitting the Internet is ALWAYS recorded (though not necessarily decrypted or even read)
Kind regards
Dear Saker;
Also a GC holder; My understanding is that we are merely “economic” citizens. From that GC, we have economic/commercial rights. But no rights w.r.t. their political process.
Now, I do strive to be a decent, law abiding human being, that does not have anything to do with the green card, and doesn’t extend to being a team player.
I think most live in a bit of fear here w.r.t. expressing their opinions in the Land Of The Free. I know I do.. It is political suppression, really. I don’t see any protests in the streets about any of this madness. It is a lesser America than what I migrated to a few decades ago. Not to say that Americans are not a fine people–they are! They have been failed by their leaders like we all have in Zone A.
In any event, while you will be missed, please so take care of you and yours. That’s worth it.
Thank you, Saker.
b.
I grew up in the 50′ 60’s in th Uk being brainwashed about the evil of Communists, KGB all reinforced by wonderfull James Bond books & movies. In my early teens I even thought there was someting good in communism. That lasted about a day when factoring in human greed. A Sting song with the line “The Russians love their children too” started to change my way of thinking. Come the ’90s went the Soviet Union dissolved I was overjoyed that the Russian people were at last liberated. Then I learned about George Soros ‘Harvard Mafia ‘ moving in and the Oligarchs. Then I started reading your blogs and learned so much more about Russia. I passed the Saker on to as many people as I could. Then the Oliver Stone interviews with Putin who I had not taken to up till then. He is now my hero along with Lavrov. The only adults in the Worlds political world I search for all their talks.
Thank you so much for being part of my education.
It’s a shame no one can take on the Saker.
I haven’t followed your illness but know you have not been well for some time. I hope you have a full recovery and enjoy the next leg of your journey in life.
Wishing you much love.
Chas
Yes, I was also brainwashed quite thoroughly as a young man
the wars in Bosnia and Chechnia opened my eyes…
Interesting! I wasn’t following Russia news carefully, but I remember coverage of a meeting where Obama and Putin were talking and I was thinking Putin was the only adult in the room!
Interpreting by phone sounds stressful—all interpreting is pretty stressful.
But how about translating? I should think there would be quite a few opportunities to work as an editorial freelancer specializing in Russian-to-English translations: either editing them or doing original translations. There are a number of websites that cater to editorial freelancers, such as the EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association), and similar sites devoted specifically to translating.
Maybe you could translate Solzhynitzen’s Two Hundred Years Together.
AFAIK there is as yet no translation direct from Russian to English.
There must be a ton of “everyday” translating to be done–also of websites, etc.
BTW, I have supported myself all my life as an editorial freelancer.
So, I am not blowing hot air!!
When “remote” working came along because of covid. . . ha ha, I had been doing that forever already.
So, I know it can be done. You can build up a clientele, if you are willing to learn how to deal with clients, how to manage different phases of the work flow, etc.
And, there are a lot of advantages in the US tax code for those who work for themselves and have home offices.
Basically, it is a good idea to have a separate, dedicated room that is your office.
You need more than one client—best to have three or more—to be considered an independent contractor by the IRS. Become well acquainted with Schedule C and form 8829 (business use of your home) of the income tax return.
You may know this already from your previous line of work.
The key to a long healthy life, consists of not doing any one thing for any too long of a period of time, no matter what that thing is, or regardless of how much joy or money it had brought in.
If it’s immediate work you’re looking for Andrei -recruitment officers urgently needed in Ukraine for the Barefoot in Bakhmut or Pressganged in Peski Programmes.
The West and their Ukrainian and Baltic puppets have not only lost the war on all levels, they’ve alienated any future business throughout Zone B. This and destroying their own economies! Exactly what they had planned, in draft, for Russia.
You can wax lyrical (and we will for many years to come) giving example after example of the levels of incompetence we came to rely on from our so-called leadership. This is like the Best of Shakespeare meets Carry on Regardless meets Monty Python.
Her Majesty got out just in time before the whole Bad Trip exploded.
Dear Andrei –
I rarely cry, but I am choking back the tears and losing the battle.
I discovered your Saker Blog because Pepe cross-posted one of his articles somewhere (on Global Research if I recall correclty) and pointed to your blog, but mentioned to “read the comments” as it was the most astute group of commentators and intellectuals on the internet. As usual, Pepe was correct.
I found a home on your web pages and amongst your readers and this community.
I have lived a life in dissent, and here, I have discovered that I am not alone.
And so, I say thank you for your dedication and for your sacrifices to build this community and to provide a platform that helped discover and uncover truth, and if nothing else, a a credible, alternative perspective.
The world is at a crossroads and the fruits of your labor are ripe for picking. The sun is setting on the Empire, and you have fueled the light that will become a new dawn.
Whatever you do, I wish you well. You have served humanity.
With much live and respect,
GoldenMan
Dear GoldenMan
We have fought the good fight trying to avoid this war.
Now guns will do the talking, the crazies left Russia no other choice
My dear friend Andrei, I found out 2 days ago about your announcement. Needless to say, it definitely was upsetting for me and I’m still processing the seriousness of the escalated NATO vs. Russia continental war possibility which also influenced your decision. However, I do understand your move, and think it’s necessary for you to do what’s best for your health and your loving family.
It is crazy to think how quickly time has passed since I first found your blog (almost 9 years). I in fact remember still how I did. I was reading some Yahoo News article about a friendly fire incident I think in Volnovakha that involved a Ukrainian Mi-24 killing a lot of their own men. In one of the comments, somebody left a link to your original Vineyard Saker blog, where you had a much more detailed and professional explanation for what happened. This was I think around June 2014 or so.
Back then, I was mostly relying just on RT for my news in Donbass aside from YouTube videos and Graham Phillips reports, since there were no other sources out there that explained things from the Russian perspective. Once I started reading your blog, I realized that you have the perfect style of explaining in ways I could understand (breaking a lot of my naive thoughts of how battles work.) And your predictions kept coming true, so I felt as if you were like a teacher for me. And then one day I wrote you a comment on the old blog in response to somebody else who was 20 or 21, you had told them that they must be your youngest reader. I said that in fact, I probably am the youngest one, since I was 18. You were amazed that your information has reached people of my generation.
From our occasional emails, we became good pen pals. And I appreciate the fact that we’ve maintained contact all these years. I’m grateful for the trust that you’ve had in me in helping create the Saker Community Translations around June 2018. Though Tatzhit and Eugenia definitely started that unoffically before me (and both of them I still think did much better than me), they were my inspirations for the translations. I apologize for the fact that my distracted and often not as focused life has gotten in the way in recent years and months with producing more translated videos. Although we still have the translation team, I haven’t been keeping up with them (which starting tomorrow, I’ll get back in touch). I want to redeem myself in this final month, perhaps I can give a lot more than I have before as a final token of my appreciation to you! I’ll also message you privately about some ideas I thought of on what we should do with the team, since I think our work must definitely continue, but in a different setting.
With your analytical help, over the years I feel like I’ve learned so many things to the point that my knowledge on the wars in Syria and Ukraine surpassed all of my brainwashed professors! I know that although I typically take more of the conspiracy side of things (because a lot of my research has found very strange but true revelations), but geopolitically, this blog became my most favorite. Despite me not commenting often from both shyness and just generally feeling that my input doesn’t mean much compared to what was already said, I still think the atmosphere of commenting that you created was a breath of fresh air – despite me being a ‘Covid crusader’ ;). We all owe a huge THANK YOU for the moderators here as well. Their work has been ceaseless, and they did that all despite the many hours of tedious sorting and reading.
In general, I would say that the Saker Community transformed into something very wonderful, a place where all us like-minded people spoke freely about our frustrations with this very real Anglo-Zionist Empire. A term that is so accurate and must continue to be used until the end of its rotten collapsing days. I truly truly truly in my heart hope that there is a way to fully archive this blog (possibly even with the comments, though that might be harder.) Because I believe so many of your articles are invaluable with knowledge. We may remember a few great analysis here and there, but what happens when one day we remember one in particular and then it is nowhere to be found? This question worries me, because I don’t wish to see that day come. Same goes with the work of the guest authors. Ramin Mazaheri wrote a lot of great articles about the Yellow Vests for example, there are many such exclusive articles that are found only here on the Saker blog. Even if it is frozen, it would be nice to have it as a time capsule of some sort. Basically of the era between 2007-2023. An era from thinking there’s little hope, to seeing the empire being defied openly in Zone B. This can become an archive for people to see that we followed these events very closely, and still thought the opposite way compared to what the corporate monopolies wanted us to see. And although you voice the huge concern of nuclear war, I’m of the belief that the Western elites are too cowardly and materialistic for it to actually happen. As we can conclude from Smedley Butler’s book War Is a Racket, big MIC money is what’s really making the conflicts continue.
In any case, I want to emphasize that you’re one of the best friends I’ve ever had, and the fact that we found each other is no accident. God brought us together. Afterall, your articles about Orthodox Christianity (truly a blessing and needs to be preserved) got me interested in it more – even before the Christian Vignettes you wrote. And you told me about one church in particular that I have been going to regularly since September. Had I took it seriously when I first went in 2019, maybe my life would have been better organized and not as hectic and AWOL by now. But nonetheless, I became a catechumen on December 30, 2022. I owe it to you, and now I must actually read the books you sent me also in 2019. All in all, I will do the best I can to give it my all to this blog in this final month. I will continue to keep in contact, and I definitely would like to still visit you in Florida if possible, since we’ve been planning for 3 years now. For the time being, definitely rest up and continue doing the greatness that you always have been on this blog till the very end. I’m certain God will find us a solution with this archive question, I’ll keep you in my prayers.
With hugs and much respect,
Лёня
Dear Lenia,
I was about to email you today. OF COURSE we stay in touch and OF COURSE you are welcome in our home (once it is rebuilt!).
Let’s get in touch in March, ok?
Hugs
Andrei
Perhaps the drop in comments has a natural cycle, as in abundant crop years and poor fruit yields etc, nature is not a machine, and even they break down sometimes and need reapairing. But being human has its own defining rhythms and I did wonder if the number of moderation rules was also a factor.
Just for the record, on a personal level, I dislike excusivity intensly, and always have done, and love eastern Europe, and Russia, which is for everyone and the whole world, and whar first drew me to this site.
We are one community, and the “proxy” SMO in the Ukraine has succeded in that in has pitted brothes against brothers, who fight and kill each other in this tragic, fearful war that seems destined to escalate
Idols of Despair
Please never despair, no matter how hard.
Satan wants us 1) lonely and 2) desperate
Don’t give him that victory, FIGHT HIM!
if one did not despair at times, then one would hardly be human. I was not being sentimental, I was being honest, and Satan pits one brother against another, what do you imagine I have been doing in my life other than facing evil and striving to create truth beauty and goodness in its face ?
The world is in a desperate space, peace on earth will come when brothers of good will work TOGETHER!
Hello, Andrei.
As this will be my first (and probably last) comment on this wonderful blog, I’d like to say some final words;
Thank you, your blog has been an eye-opener for me. It has changed my wiev of the world forever. I am really sad that this has an end, but I understand that family, health and safety comes first. We all will surely miss your unique voice. Your contribution to the now unstopable wave for freedom will never be forgotten.
Take care, and all the best form Norway.
Thank you for everything. I have been reading your blog for years and greatly appreciate your aggregation of truly meaningful voices. I sent a belated contribution. All the best to you and your family.
Dear Andrei,
Many thanks for your selfless efforts – I have been following you for over 10 years.
Regarding the archiving: please ask you webmasters to zip the files for the entire website up to a date in February (perhaps with a verification key). It will obviously be a large download but it will allow all those with the means to download a true copy of the data. This will at least preserve it. Then, those who have the means, can re-create a copy of the website and host it for posterity. Your webmasters will also have to describe the software used etc.
In essence, the website must be prepared as if you were migrating to another server. This will make it much easier to preserve it. The one issue is privacy – commenters email addresses etc should be removed.
Kind regards and many many thanks.
sisyphus
Just saw your announcement. Shocked, but not surprised. And very sorry…at many levels… to see you go.
I first discovered you over a decade ago. Life took over after a couple years. Rediscovered you after the smo.
Thank you for all you have done for us. Health & family must be first and last.
Sir,
I have only come upon this blog within the last year because of a cross post. I have found this blog to be more informative than anything I have located on line yet.
I am sorry to hear of your health and hope that the good Lord provide you with many days and years of comfort and success.
As a retired Soldier I have found this blog allows me to find a more even insightful and informative keel as I watch the world spiral around me out of control.
Sir. I wish you well and safety and health to your family in the future whatever it may hold for you and the rest of the world
Dear Mr. Saker,
After meeting my wife, and working very hard and raising a family, the best decision, was to plead with my employer to make me redundant. It took them 3 years to agree. I had changed almost instantly from loving my job, to almost “I can’t take it any more” but had to, or I wouldn’t still be here, nearly 20 years later.
So, I think I know how you feel, When you have let go of The Saker, All the stress and pressure will go. You will have a clear mind and a clear head. You will feel free. Your mind will help your body to heal itself. It will open a new world for you
I have been reading you since about 2012-2013, and I bought your first book, so I have been reading you almost since you started your blog. I will miss you – take it easy.
I have only one request. I want to see you Play some Music – on Your Guitar…if you have an old video or even a new one.
I love music, but can’t play.. I’ve tried. I am rubbish
Not heard you yet.
God Bless,
Tony
To address the world as “Dear friends,” seems a peculiarly Russian welcome, a wish and a blessing, to be lived up to and cherished. Perhaps in another future we shall be the allies we should always have been.
I too would urge you to continue accepting donations, because the value continues even if the blog does not.
Dear Andrei
I had never commented here before, but I felt an imperative need to tell you three simple things, but with profound meaning.
First; I owe you a debt of gratitude that unfortunately I will never be able to repay. True knowledge is priceless.
Second; you connected me with a reality that was completely hidden from me, and introduced me to other excellent thinkers, analysts and journalists who don’t prostitute themselves and present the truth whenever possible. Thanks to you, I met my compatriot Pepe Escobar, Larchmorter, Gonzalo Lira, Dmitry Orlov, Larry Jhonson and others.
Third: May the Creator bless you in your future projects, protect you and your family. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll have the pleasure of seeing you here.
I follow your blog since 2014, and his absence will be an irreplaceable void.
Best regards. And I wish you and your family all the best.
From Brazil, whit love.
It was a pleasure to help moderate over the years. Moderating after the SMO was declared was an experience I won’t forget. There are a lot of people who care and respect you. God bless and to quote Dylan Thomas, “Do not go gentle into that good night.”
Your books and writings will stand the test of time Andrei The Saker.
And kudos to Herb – the silence man in the background…selflessly oiling the gears and keeping the machinations of The Saker blog running smoothly.
My best to you all with Love and Respect.
Mod-DA
Good bye Saker.
I wish you success in every thing you do.
Do not think about worse.
USA is a great country to live.
If not I wish you success in going to another country you like.
Just submitted my own little good bye piece on the other earlier post. Hope it still gets read.
Will miss this blog terribly but see my recommendations!
Merlin
Dear Andrei,
God here.
I changed my mind: You can continue blogging.
In fact, this is my command.
If you can save one life, its worthwhile.
God xx
I’m going to miss you Andrei. A teaching position would be perfect for you. You make a great history teacher and that can be done remotely.
I’ll also miss Batiushka and his lessons. Your archive about the Eastern Orthodox Church is a wonderful resource.
Heya Andrei, I have only commented a couple of times since finding the Saker site.
But I do want to say that I have learnt so much, not only from reading the articles posted here but also from reading the comments that get posted. Quite often I read the comments before i read the articles.
So much good, eye opening, thought provoking information is, and has been, shared through the words from yourself, guest writers and commentators.
I feel special and priveliged to have found “The Saker” community and my knowledge and understanding of this world and the way it operates has been enhanced phenomenally by regularly visiting this fountain of wisdom.
So an absolute thank you to yourself, your guests, your commentators, and also to all of the visitors like myself, who soak it all up.
All the best,
Hud.
I have enjoyed your analyses and the eclectic mix of articles you have reproduced on your site and from a personal perspective as a Serb, I very much appreciate your attempts to show a more balanced look at the break up of the former Yugoslavia beyond the false, opportunistic, anti-Serbian, interventionist narrative of the Western establishment and mainstream media.
Fare thee well, Mr Raevsky.