Dear friends, Christ is Risen!
I hope that those amongst you who are Orthodox Christians had a peaceful and joy-filled celebration of Holy Paskha. My family and I had a wonderful celebration and we are now back at home.
First, I want to share with you a quick “state of the blog” update: the blog is doing *fantastic* with something between 7 and 10 million pages served each month. I don’t even know what the statistics would be for the other language Saker blogs (Italian, Spanish/Portuguese, French, Serbian and Russian) are, but I know that they are all doing very well and are quite visible in their own linguistic regions.
What I can tell you is that we recently broke through the 500’000 comments limit (in spite of our “brutal” and “unfair” “censorship”!). Such numbers are truly phenomenal and I want to thank you all for making this possible!
The Russian language Saker blog ran into a (quite predictable) minor “bump in the road” when the organization which we used to register our domain name (namecheap.com) simply pulled the plug on the blog and, when asked, told us that the account had been “suspended due to abuse” with no further clarifications. How oh so surprising. Not. “Democracy” at work and all that…
No big deal here, we still have our our files and we can restart the Russian Saker blog elsewhere, but not right now since a more important development requires immediate attention and I will deal with that issue when I come back to resume my duties.
Right now I need to deal with another reality: I have some health issues which I now need to take care of and which I cannot continue to try to ignore.
So, after some brainstorming with my family and key collaborators on the blog this is what we have decided and how that will impact you:
- I will personally stop blogging until my health is back where it should be. This will take several months, probably about 3 months.
- During this period, the blog will be run by my assistant Amarynth and our IT guru and chief of moderation Herb who are both trusted friends with whom I have been working for years and who have my full confidence and support.
- Specifically, while my own analyses will be suspended, the rest of the blog will continue to work as usual.
- Starting May 1st, our (superb) guest authors will send their contributions directly to Amarynth who will then schedule them and post them. In truth, she has been doing that upon my request for many months already and I do not expect any problems on that side. Until my return, her editorial decisions will be final.
- Herb has been the head of moderation and he, and his team of moderators, will continue to work, the only difference is that the final decisions will be taken by Herb and our moderators and I won’t be involved in it in any way (my role until now was minimal anyway). Until my return, the decisions of the moderators will be final.
- Our team of translators will continue to provide you with translations including subtitled videos, translated texts and anything else needing translation.
- The Saker staff and others will continue to provide their SITREPs and analyses on a regular basis.
So if you are primarily an author/contributor/translator, there will be very little difference for you, you will be able to continue to contribute just as in the past, but you would be dealing directly with Amarynth. If you don’t already have her email, email me and I will put you in touch with her.
If you are a commentator, then again nothing much will change, really.
And if you are mainly a lurking reader, you will still get plenty of superb guest contributions from our authors.
One last thing: if at all possible, please do not email me, especially not emails requiring me to answer, unless it is BOTH urgent and important.
Over the next few months what I will need most is rest. I have been blogging nonstop for fifteen (15!) years now and that has taken a toll on my health. Taking that much needed time off is the only way for me to keep the blog up and running in the long term.
Lastly, as I have mentioned several times, should it come to an OPEN conflict between US and Russian military personnel, I will immediately “freeze” the blog until the situation is resolved. If other NATO nations get into an open conflict with Russia, the blog will continue to operate simply because no country of NATO has any real agency except the USA. As for NATO itself, it is mostly a pathetic joke, ditto for the EU, of course.
In conclusion, I ask for your understanding. This is a difficult decision for me, one I have pushed back many many times already. That is also the only way to keep the blog up and running in the long term.
Anyway, that’s it on my end. I hope that everything will run smoothly and that by the time I come back to blogging, I will do so in a much better health than today :-)
Hugs and cheers to all,
Andrei
UPDATE: I want to thank all of you for your kind words of support and best wishes, such an outpouring of support really touches me deeply. Thank you all for your understanding and kindness!!
Get well soon.
I have followed you for a long time. And since 2015 I am an assiduous reader, daily.
The Saker is well known and appreciated in Brazil.
Despite, but above all, some differences and disagreements, it is an indispensable source of information.
Thank you for the work you have done.
I only started to post comments very recently due to the extremely dangerous situation we are in.
I wish you health, strength, and much spiritual connection.
《The deserts are filled with submarines (but they are breaking free!)》
Wish you be healthy soon !
God’s blessings on you for healing. Your site has been a beacon in the darkness of disinfo.
Best to your health, enjoy the time with the family.
We wish you the very best and a speedy recovery.
Get yourself healthy. Best wishes and thanks.
Get well, soon. My best wishes to you!
Take care, take rest. I hope you will come back full of new strength. Best wishes!
Get well and god bless
Брзо и успешно оздрављење Андреј
Fique com Deus, meu irmão…
The whole Italian community wishes you the best Andrei and waits for your return, stronger than ever. Do not worry about us, we can struggle some more ;)
I don’t know if you will really manage to stay away for so long… sometimes you say you need to rest and then we have to translate 3 times as much!
Have a good Spring and take care of yourself!
Look after yourself Andrei
Hear from you soon.
I’m sure Amarynth and the IT guru and chief of moderation Herb and Night vision will do an excellent job.
Dear Saker,
Wishing you well in your recovery.
God Bless
Χριστός Ανέστη ! Christ is Risen !
It’s about 8 years, since I found this blog, helping me understand the real World.
Thank you, dear Saker ! I wish you a quick recovery, Sir !
Take care of your precious self, dear Saker and take a long rest while you recuperate.
I feel greatly privileged to have discovered your wonderful, enlightening blog and thus to have become part of a world wide group of people brave enough to expose the cruelty and narcissism of the Empire of Lies. This would not have happened without your 15 years of unremitting hard work supported by your loyal team.
Love from Sara
Rest is important as is silence. What can be a huge difference is meditation and connecting with spirit. These days off probably gave the insight to step down and take care for health. God and life itself gives us so many insights everyday, we just have to listen and follow. Sending you love and light and in that connection may as much people as possible heal with us.
Your writings will be missed. All the best wishes for a steady and thorough recovery.
Andrei,
first ever comment. Much appreciated your work since 2014. Please make sure you take the time to recover and recuperate, and look forward to your return when you are healthy enough.
Jerry
Hi Andrei, thank you big time despite our earlier misunderstandings in 2015 and despite having different views. With modern day western pseudo commjnists as well as with these before Stalin’ s purges you were absolutely right. All the Best and be back soon!
Best wishes for your health, Andrei.
Ive been reading and listening for a few years now, you have provided some of the best insight and analysis there is, all the best Andrei , get well soon.
May God protect you and protect Russia. I wish you peace of mind, good health and tranquility. Everything is predetermined for us by God.
Hi Andrei,
I hope you’ll enjoy this more than deserved break, and that everything will be alright. Dust will settle, and you’ll come back wiser and mightier than ever :) Your friends will wait for you :)
Bon rétablissement !
Un frenchi qui suit votre blog non stop.
Amicalment
Dear Andrei,
Thank you for all you do to provide factual information and viewpoints from your perspective. It has been very valuable to me over the last 4 months; I don’t know how I would be coping with this whole situation. It has been most helpful, that I started reading yours and others blogs in the fall of 2021 before everything came to a head with the SMO. I hope for Peace and an end to war for all those involved currently in the world. I wish you the best in your health recovery!
Steve
Действительно воскрес. All the best in your convalescence.
Fill your time with music Andrei like this one here https://youtu.be/mC-zw0zCCtg and then live to experience Isaiah 40:31
Cheers
Gerry
A few book suggestions on health questions, sorry couldn’t resist. 1st. 3 enjoyable read books by Dr. Thomas Levy, Rapid Virus Recovery, Magnesium Reversing Disease, and Curing the Incurable, Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases and Toxins. In my opinion you just don’t know everything until you’ve read this comprehensive Trilogy. You can fix anything in the body with proper nutrition and supplementation. Another longer slightly more difficult read is by Dr. Gundry, The Longevity Paradox, in which he gets specific about how to feed the healthy bacteria in your gut microbiome and what not to feed the bad bugs. A lovely lady Dr. Natasha Campbell gets deep into the Gut microbiome question and how it effects everything in Gut and Psychology Syndrome and how what goes on in our gut digestion is the key to everything. Gundry I think simplifies it a little bit and is explicit on how to fix it.
Good Luck to the Saker. Best wishes. God speed.
Good afternoon everyone, I just want to wish Andrei all the best and also wish for his total recover and once he’s well and strong again may we all have a “virtual welcome party” for our friend, for he’s a jolly good fellow. All the best for him and thank very much Amarynth and Herb and your staff for your awesome job here. Cheers from Vale do Ipiranga
A steady and progressive recovery for you.. best wishes. Its a bit manic all this going on trying to get facts…thinking about plans..strategies. Lets hope peace has been agreed by the time you return God bless.
”I will personally stop blogging until my health is back where it should be. This will take several months, probably about 3 months.”
Sounds like you have confirmation that something big is around the corner. That worries you. I can imagine. Hope you are will and your family, Andrei.
All the Newen (indigenous Mapuche word meaning: the energy of all living things). Wishing you a well deserve rest and hoping you get much better soon Andrei.
Dear Andrei,
you have my best wishes for your reconvalence. Take it serious and think of yourself first and foremost.
I am pretty sure, that you have a good team, because your blog is GOOOOOD!!!!
And you could not get this done on your own, as you have only one brain, two hands and one heart.
And at the scale of this blog, you need more and good people.
You obviously have those good people and I want this also to be understood as a compliment not only to you, but to your crew.
Best regards,
Andreas
I have only just read this.
Through our Risen Saviour Lord Jesus Christ, prayers from this (Pentecostal) Christian are offered up to our Father in Heaven, for Him to grant you the strength to come through that which you face. I feel sure that your work with your blog has been fulfilling God’s purpose for you (otherwise He would have long since stopped or diverted you! I know this from my own life experiences!). Now perhaps He is guiding you to slow down, to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
May we all come through these trying times with our own sense of resurrection, a renewal of love, respect and understanding of our fellow human beings.
Mr. Saker should enjoy some time off and ‘tune out’ this sad war business for a while. The world will never stop. It’s up to Mr. Saker to do the stopping for himself knowing he’s the only one who can do the resting for himself.
—
Just saw on Reddit “Ukrainian conflict” a Twitter post by a Nazi (not an Ashkenazi, just a low-level Nazi) under the Azov steel plant.
He said there were 600 combatants and 300 non combatants including a few dozen children.
He said they had only a few days of water and food, very little ammo.
His main concern was that his Ashkenazi overlords in Kiev, the Pope (on a rope) and Washington “implement the extraction mechanism” and save his arse from the Rooskies!
Namecheap is based in Ukraine. So no surprise there.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery dear Saker.
Having a strong support team of trusted hands will leave your mind and body space to heal.
Blessings from downunder.
Take care Andrei and thank you for your site…my first choice of information now. It may be hard to rest if you have led a busy life but your body knows best and you will benefit from a long rest with good nourishment.
Good choice Andrei, health above all..
Wish you well deserved rest, quick recuperation and some quality time. And thank you so much for all you have done, you have been a light in the digital darkness
Wishing you a speedy return to health, and thank you for the great insights that Vineyard of the Saker has gifted us with over the years.
Andrei,
Get well soon! Thanks for this Samizdat ( or Tamizdat? – ) which for me is now daily information source. The mass media in US and EU are less than worthless, so you can be proud of your handiwork.
Dear Saker,
It was with some sadness that I read your post saying that you will be away for about 3 months. But I wish you all the best and hope you will recover your health speedily and completely.
I have learned a lot from your insightful writings, especially about Russia, her history, her culture and civilization, Orthodox Christianity, and about current events. Although I don’t agree with you on some of your views like those on the 1917 Russian Revolution (the first great proletarian revolution in human history), Lenin, and the events in the erstwhile USSR (whose people sacrificed so much in the struggle against fascism), nevertheless, neither you nor your compatriots have ever censored or blocked any of the few posts I have written for the blog. For this open mindedness, which is very rare in today’s world, and which is in line with the true spirit of science that one can find in the writings of Einstein, I am truly grateful.
I agree with you 100% on the nature of the Russian soul, i.e., it is not European but something very different. This can be seen in the writings of Russia’s great literary personages like Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chekov, Dostoevsky, Gorky, and many others whom I read while growing up. And I have personally experienced the warmth, generosity, kindness and fraternity of the Russian spirit. This soul can also be witnessed in the great work (in 4 volumes) “And Quiet Flows the Don” by Mikhail Sholokhov, which is set in the period of the Russian Civil War, and which has been made into a film (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvWx7wzmNIg).
Best wishes,
Captain Nemo
Russian poetry is unsurpassed; you would love it! Blok, Biely, you will love it all! Even in English translation, it blows your mind!
Best Wishes for a full recovery, Andrei! Your blog is the first one I go to every morning. Thank you as well as thanks to your competent staff and other contributors.
Andrei,
Best wishes to you. Take the time to get well.
Your blog has been a great finding for me, recently. I wish you all the best, take care and hopefully you come back soon. Rest and get well.
We will win!
Desejo plena e rápida recuperação a você, Andrei! E é muito bom saber que há colaboradores como Amarynth e NightVision, Herb e outros, que tornam este site ainda melhor e que manterão a qualidade da página.
Tradução automática:
206 / 5.000
Resultados de tradução
I wish you a full and speedy recovery, Andrei. And it’s great to know that there is a team like Amarynth and NightVision, Herb and other contributors who make this site even better and who will maintain the quality of the page.
Lieber Andrei,
ich danke Dir von Hezen für diesen Bolg. Und ich möchte Dir die besten Wünsche mit auf den Weg Deiner Genesung und Regeneration mitgeben.
С нами Бог
Liebe Grüße aus Köln / Deutschland
Translation. Mod:
Dear Andrei, I thank you from Hezen for this Bolg. And I would like to give you the best wishes on the way to your recovery and regeneration. С нами Бог Greetings from Cologne / Germany.
I first found your blog long years ago via a link from ” information clearing house” which also introduced me to the likes of Pepe.. Glenn… and Robert (Fisk) may he RIP. You intoduced me to ” well hello…thats me again” and many others. Thank you for all you have done for providing clear relevant and enlighting information… please stay well and relish the time with your loved ones….
Take care Andrei.
Life is more than politics. Take your time to become healthy again.
Dear Andre,
I have never had the need to address you personally, I followed moderation rules to the T, only once reaching out to the other team members. I guess I always figured you for a geopolitical busy Santa at the printshop not to be disturbed. From a lurking visitor reader, to a once in a while commenter, I have been getting my news and formulating my perspective through your dedicated & professional insights ( I ignore some spiteful remarks at times, choke it up to ‘we are all humans and are not infallible’). However since the old saker blog, right up to now with the advent of the triumvirate of reason (Saker + Reminisce + Moon), along the way a gave up on a lot of blogs, your outlook and reason not only resonated with me but it became like the anchor for a post-modern geopolitical realism much needed and growing in acknowledgement. Sometime in the future, many people will sing your praises for the work that you began. I pray that you get yourself sorted, refreshed, rested, rejuvenated because I see a dark cloud in the horizon and we need you to jump back into the fray and do what it is only you know how to do best. Take care and God bless.
I have followed you for many years and I thank our Lord for you and all you do. You deserve a rest and I thank you for leaving us in such good hands.
I live in Florence, AZ, just 5 miles from the beautiful St. Anthonys Monastery that I love. If you need some real peace you are always welcome in my home so you can spend time at the monastery. Long ways for you but the offer is there. Oh and it may be a little warmer then you’re used too.
God bess you and your family. As always in my prayers.
Mary
Andrei, You sir are a true hero, on par with and I am sure as humble as men like Gonzalo. The invaluable truth that you have provided to the world is nearly or maybe unparalleled. I have only been reading the blog for about seven years but have been aware of the evil tide for decades. The world owes you a gratitude that I hope someday will be repaid, hopefully a full recovery is a good start, victory of truth and justice will perhaps be enough as I hope it is for all of us. Meanwhile we hope to enjoy “The Professor” Martyanov, and the rest of the wonderful people who are involved with this site in any way, readers to contributors, moderators and of course the venerable Amarynth. Keep your head down as there will be further backlashes against truthtellers as things get worse before they get better. I was going to use the ridiculous mispronunciation until I looked it up … За здоровье
All the best to you Saker.
This is a good chillax- logistics decision on your part . . . . . . after a few months, may we all raise a glass to toast the unfolding sweet ‘Fair World Order’ that is to come.
Andrei,
Wishing you a return to the best of health.
All the best to you and your family.
I rarely post but have learnt much due to the efforts of you and the Saker team & community.
Thank you, RM
Please rest well and worry free, it is all in God’s hands. Dare I say we, the commentators and staff has got your back! Your efforts here like an orchard grows. Thank you Saker!
I will pray for you my brother in Christ
Dearest Andrei.
Your international community really values you & your work.
We know you’ve been pushing personal boundaries for far to long, to bring wider awareness to Empire, war, peace and all things Russia.
As you’ve thankfully recognised, it takes a ‘crisis’ to bring important change to one’s own life; and quite like the current Ukraine situation, if the correct lessons are learned and enacted, then (self) improvements will follow.
So in some ways your personal situation is a blessing in disguise.
I for one, am very happy that you’re changing your personal tactics, operations & logistics to take the very best care of your precious and much loved self.
It’s certainly preferable to what UK palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware wrote in 2012, about the five regrets of the dying.
1) “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
2) “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
3) “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”
4) “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”
5) “I wish I had let myself be happier”
It takes courage to act decisively, and if people really understood they wouldn’t leave it too late and end with regrets.
You’re already well on track and set a great example Andrei.
All the best.
Romans 12:2 As St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Andrei, every cell in your body is so transformed into perfect health.
Happy Easter to all faithful Christians!
Remember, the ultimate goal of war is peace.
These “forever wars” of past two decades have nothing to do with humanity. These have been the same as Mongol invasions with no goal of rebuilding. They were meant to remove anyone who was capable of rebuilding anything. To drag humanity into the gutters.
People of faith have forgiveness, and only the people with higher aim allow fellow humans to thrive. This they will do despite the threats to the long term stability of their society.
Blessings to you, Andrei, in reclaiming your good health.
Χριστός Ανέστη ! Christ is Risen !
Saker,
May God’s healing clear you of your maladies and re-invigorate you for the next 15 years.
I live in the Empire of Lies and can only imagine how much joy, happiness, progress, and satisfaction there would be in the world if our community could be leaders of their countries. A dream, I know. But all action begins with a thought. Perhaps we are already trying to make our change locally which will then blossom into a larger and larger effect. Here in this degrading empire, there is much to overcome but each time I visit this blog and read the articles and insightful comments, I walk away thinking there is hope. As a Greek Orthodox believer, I appreciate your faith and though I have never visited Russia, I feel a kinship and spirit of similar beliefs and values.
May President Putin, Lavrov, Shoigu, and all the others that fight for what is right, morally and spiritually, continue to do so with ultimate success.
Good rest and good health.
Saker, I wish you a peaceful rest (as much as possible in the current situation) and a quick and full recovery. Thank you for the time and energy dedicated to this blog. Hope everything gets better, and will be looking forward for the return of your insightful analysis. Take care.
Much health your way Andrei. Illness is always difficult; may you meet the challenge and overcome it’s strength.
God and God’s love be with you.
I whole heartedly support your choice. Your family and health are the most important forms of real wealth at this time (faith is a given).
Thank you for everything you have done over these 15 years. Indispensable education for a long time reader. Take care & rest and I look forward to seeing you back in 100% health.
I hope you get better and come back fast.
Your health is vital so all the best Andrei and get well soon!
Totally support your decision Andrei. Having struggled with my own health and stress issues, I think it is a wise one. Will be praying for you!
This advice is for everyone. The single best thing you can do for your health is to remove all cooking oils from the diet. Heating oil (any oil) for frying or cooking turns the oil into a toxic substance that taxes the body and destroys general health. Never heat oils. You can use olive or sesame oil as finishing oils for salads or other cooked dishes if used sparingly. Get in the habit of sauteing everything in water; it works great. You have to keep stirring everything to prevent sticking, but it is worth it. Just add more water. These nasty cooked oils thicken and turn your blood into sludge (contributes to horrid varicose veins!). Your blood needs to be relatively thin and free flowing for good health. Try it and you will be surprised at how good you feel! Don’t tell the Cooking Oil Lobby, please! I have enough problems….
Wish you a complete recovery as soon as possible, sir. Get well soon!
Praying for you in Christ’s name for healing and restoration.
He is risen!
Take care of your health, and we will see you on your return. People will be praying for you!
Dear Andrei, “the Saker”
Take to the nest to rest and recover.
Hope to have you flying again in three month’s time.
Best wishes to you and your family.
From Beverley.
Andrei, if you see this please add my very best wishes for your complete recovery to the thousands of those already written to you or even just thought.
Get well soon and stay well!