Dear friends,
For various reasons, I plan to make the new Saker blog more similar to the very old Saker blog (2007-2012). None of the planned adjustments below will dramatically change anything, so please think of is as a kind of mid-life minor maintenance overhaul. What follows is a summary of these changes:
- The biggest change will be not in what I write, but how I present things to you. In the past, I tried to write one full analysis a week, then I had to change that to one analysis every two weeks. This is now over, I will not write full length analyses depending on any self-imposed schedule – I will write long analyses simply and only when needed.
- As a result of the above, I will make the blog much more “interactive”. Not only will I post many more item types (ranging from a quick comment to a short commentary or reaction to, yes, long analyses), I will now have the time to post more often.
- Furthermore, I intend to engage more in the comments section. Before, I barely had the time to, at best, quickly peek through them.
- I am also announcing the termination of my relationship, for many reasons, with the Unz Review. This will now free up a lot of time for me.
- Speaking of “Sakers”, first it was an alias for my “thin anonymity”, then it became a fun pen name (I still like it), but from now on I will sign my comments and email replies with “Andrei” and only use the word Saker as a pen name for longer articles.
- From now on I will post everything I write, from 12000 words to a single sentence, on the main “Saker Analyses and Interviews” sections. I therefore propose to also completely get rid of the following sections: “News and Announcements” and “Sandbox”.
- For various reasons, I am getting more visibility in Russia. I will keep that in mind in my future posts, so that will maybe make them sound somewhat different in tone and assumptions. When possible, I will try to get English translations of my Russian interviews/texts and post them here.
- I am considering resuming podcasts, but shorter ones, maybe Q&As with readers?
That’s about it. A few small things to add:
- I just asked my webmaster and head of moderation whether the total readership had, over the past three months, changed in any way, up, down or the same. His reply is “No changes, same” (somewhere in the 2+M pages/month range. The deranking by Google & Co of the Saker blog has had very little impact because most of my traffic is from one form or another of word of mouth, not search engines.
- Donations are somewhat slowing down, I will have to make a fundraiser soon.
- We are still always in need of help, including translators (Russian <-> English), moderators and, of course, donations. Right now, things are a little tight, but working generally fine.
- I plan to stick to my decision not to deal with internal US politics for many reasons, including the fact that who is in the White House really makes very little difference at this point. Besides, I already said all I had to say about the US itself. So I will deal with mostly international events and US foreign actions. This is not set in stone, but more of a general inclination.
- I never expected the success of the Christian Vignette Project, there are just under 80 people who signed up, this is just about the *perfect* amount, not too little, not too late. I also like the type of people who signed up. Expect the first vignette soon. I think that this will be both fun and very interesting :-)
- Alas, I still won’t be able, at least as a rule, to reply to private emails on political topics. If you have something to ask – use the comments section.
- The commenting rules all remain in force. If you have not, please read them now!
- On the SARS-COV-2/COVID19 issues, we’ve opened up a regular page on the Saker Community site, only for serious researchers. No drive-by link-dropping will be tolerated. This is the latest page: https://saker.community/topic/new-chatter-and-jabber-thread-saturday-august-28/
That’s about it. Please let me know what you think!
Kind regards
The Saker
UPDATE: I just got an email from Ramin Mazaheri, is is going great, enjoying some time off (he sure needed it!). If all goes according to plan he will, God willing, resume writing for us in September! So, no worries :-)
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them here below, I will always read them and try to reply if I can.
Saker; I am happy for you that you are getting more traction in Russia.
Staying loose regarding internal American politics also seems prudent, and wise on your part. In my opinion domestic American politics is one of the most challenging and demanding subjects any mortal human can be expected to face. Not an easy subject at all. It requires special skills in my experience. Any serious and successful discussion of the American reality needs a lot of preamble and lead time before the essence of the matter can be reached.
Would you be willing to share details about your changing relationship with the Unz review? I learn a lot from that site but am often put off by the quality of comments.
I am hoping your vignettes can lead to the exchange of lots of healthy and positive energy.
Would you be willing to share details about your changing relationship with the Unz review?
No. I am sorry
Andrei
I’ve been to the Unz review numerous time and I think Andrei made a wise decision, while they do have some fine posters “tho I notice many of those have left” any poster or those posting articles soon find out the trolls are just waiting to attack them, not their articles so much as personally, so that it soon becomes nothing but free for all. Just my opinion.
FYI – I fully intend to repost some of the good articles posted there (Unz, Michael Hudson, PCR, Fred Reed, etc.) or, if not repost, mention them or post a link to them. But that will be the extend of my interaction with that website.
Andrei
The Unz Review is a disgustingly pro-Nazi Hitlerite rabidly racist site – I don’t say that as either a leftist, a liberal or some kind of “woke” ideologue, for the record, I was raised in a Serbian monarchist strictly Orthodox Christian émigré/diaspora community in the UK, staunchly anti-communist, & my views correspond. But Unz is quite a vile site, I don’t think I need to really go into detail, I’m not sure if they were always as bad as they are now, I only started visiting the site about 4 years ago or so, drawn there by Saker & Martyanov’s articles. Of late however, it seems to me they are going the way of Russia Insider in espousing openly Hitlerite Nazi viewpoints & all kinds of pseudo race theory. They attempt to intellectualize it, but it is repugnant all the same, the sheer amount of open white supremacy they espouse there. Having said that, some of their content is unbelievably stupid, out of curiosity I perused a piece yesterday by one Andrew Anglin, in which he states, just brazen like, that whites are generally more intelligent than blacks. What does he offer as evidence for this? Just his opinion, which readers are supposed to respect for reasons unknown. I am in no way pro-immigration, & ironically, in the multi-ethnic multi-racial city I live in, some of the most staunch anti-immigration sentiment I have ever heard has come from persons of African, Carribean & Pakistani descent. On the intelligence matter, I have been friends with & worked with many persons of cited background, some of my black colleagues were some of the most intelligent & professional people I have ever met, & I have met all sorts, some of the most stupid idiotic people I ever met were white English, & that in no way represents them either. I work with two people at the moment, one from Zimbabwe who is quite stupid, another from Cameroon who is ultra intelligent as well as knowledgeable. So go figure. The stuff you read at Unz on race, not to mention their touting the nonsense that the Soviet Union/Russia may have been responsible for the Second World War – well, I would not want to contribute or work with such an outlet either.
The Unz Review is a disgustingly pro-Nazi Hitlerite rabidly racist site
Just like the Saker blog, the Unz Review is an “ideologically impure” website.
Just as moderation as undesirable side-effects (by definition), so does not having moderation.
Yes, the Unz comments section has turned into a neo-Nazi Kaffeeklatsch, but authors like Unz, Hudson or Reed are very much worth reading.
Please keep in mind that I often post articles I disagree with.
Please also keep in mind that I think that the only interesting historiography is one which revises our certitudes.
I do not think that Suvorov/Rezun proved his thesis, but I do think that he is worth reading. His book “Otchishchenie” is his best, by the way.
On the Saker blog I do not require my readers to be anti-racist or pro-immigrants. If they can present their views based on facts and processed logically, I could also post an anti-anti-racist or an anti-pro-immigrant article.
Look, I have no use for Nazis and their propaganda is banned (check the moderation rules). But the main reason for that is that they are ignorant, stupid and bigoted. I myself consider myself as a Russian People’s Monarchist (narodnyi monarchist), but I post articles by Communists. I am Orthodox, but I post articles by Muslims. I am religious, but I post article by agnostics.
For some, this lack of “ideological purity” is a grave sin. I disagree.
So I hope not to disappoint you in the future.
Kind regards
Andrei
I totally agree, & for the record, I am quite disappointed with what to me sees on the Unz site a drift into far-rightist extremity, I actually have for much of the past 4 years or so greatly enjoyed & respected much of what that site had to offer – so maybe I spoke a bit too harshly. I find Ron Unz articles generally excellent, including his most recent contributions on the global pandemic. Also, I am absolutely for a broad ideological spectrum of opinion, to me, the far left is far more offensive than the far right, I can somewhat understand the frustrations of the latter, whereas the former are actually the most vicious of rabid extremists who would – given the chance – kill us all. But I am disappointed with the Unz site, they are undermining themselves & it suprises me to be frank, as Rob Unz clearly is intelligent enough to see this & find a way to moderate it or side line the more outright Nazi stuff if he so chooses. But it is up to him, not me, ultimately the site is setting itself up to be attacked full on by the liberal anti-defamation mafia.
Alas, there is nothing I can reply to that :-(
I agree with you and that immensely saddens me.
This is a slow-motion seppuku which did not have to happen…
Andrei
Many commenters at UR provide excellent material.
Of course, many commenters are AHs, prima donnas, obnoxious in other ways, who take the opportunity to grandstand and throw down thousands of words of questionable or no merit or actual BS.
AFAIK Ron Unz allows them their lead (occasionally I hear of comments being binned).
Unz has his quirks.
That is certainly his right.
The people with something to contribute and also who are looking for good material and ideas can easily ignore the bloviators.
The tagline of the Unz Review is “A Collection of Interesting, Important, and Controversial Perspectives Largely Excluded from the American Mainstream Media.”
To me the usefulness of the UR is that bringing together in one place writers from across the political spectrum from the far right to the far left and a lot of odd spots in between encourages thinking outside the traditional (US) political left/right boxes and supposed perimeters.
I don’t see seppuku taking place at the UR, but I have no behind-the-scenes insights.
The UZ is great! The problem is the comments section.
But that ain’t my problem anymore, so I won’t comment about that.
My page is turned :-)
Andrei
Less is more.
A good guideline in most things non-pecuniary.
> I plan to stick to my decision not to deal with internal US politics for many reasons
The reason why RM is not published here anymore?
Thx
sorry, what is RM?
as for my decision to stay away from internal US poltitics, I already explained it, look it up.
I think he means our esteemed Iranian socialist friend Ramin Mazaheri. Any idea what happened to him Saker?
I sure do miss his poetic intelligence.
ah, okay, I just added an update about that in my announcement: I just got an email from Ramin Mazaheri, it is going great, enjoying some time off (he sure needed it!). If all goes according to plan he will, God willing, resume writing for us in September! So, no worries :-)
but thanks for asking
I also miss Ramin!
Andrei
All the changes sound better. More “homely”.
And yes, navigating U.S. intricacies is usually exhausting.
The best I liked was the part of your analysis/thoughts being paid more attention to in Russia. That is truly genial! Congratulations!
P.D. Today Khazin posted something about some law that would make the government to achieve more control of the budget over Minfin. If that indeed is executed, I guess is yet another celebration!
Khazin is very good (and others too!)
I will try to get a more steady stream of translation of Russian authors going.
Cheers
Here’s an article on the changes:
The Russian authorities have prepared a draft law envisaging revolutionary changes in the management of public financial resources. According to the document, the government will receive new powers, and the role of the Ministry of Finance will be leveled to the level of performing accounting functions.
The Russian government refuses the budget rule (“cut-off price”) of the politician and economist Alexey Kudrin, who currently holds the post of head of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, reported today, August 30, the Kremlin telegram channel “Nezygar”.
As indicated by the TC, the Ministry of Finance has developed a bill that involves revolutionary changes in the management of public financial resources. The document sets out the legal grounds for the government to change the consolidated budget list as quicklyas possible, without correcting the law on the federal budget. Previously, this was not possible, since the adjustment of the Federal Law on the budget required lengthy parliamentary procedures and approvals.
Among the most important budget areas to be covered by the proposed draft law are the following::
«The Cabinet of Ministers gets the opportunity to use the funds of the National Welfare Fund on a permanent basis in excess of the amount stipulated by the Federal Law on the Federal Budget in the event of a decline in oil prices below the base level. Thus, the “budget rule” that has been blocking domestic investment for many years, which was introduced by Kudrin under pressure from the IMF, has actually lost its force. Whether to comply with it or not is up to the Government to decide. The government’s reserve fund can be increased by the amount of the remaining federal budget funds that were not used in the reporting year (or cannot be used until the end of the current period) as planned. By the end of 2020, there are 1 trillion rubles worth of such rolling balances.”
In addition, “the government will be able to redistribute within 10% of the total annual budget allocations allocated for the implementation of state programs, without increasing the total amount of allocations provided for in the federal budget.”
“Simply put, depending on how a particular program is implemented, money can be transferred to where things are going well. Or in connection with a specific economic situation (rising prices, favorable purchasing conditions, increased export demand, etc.). Federal executive authorities will be able to maneuver money and resources,” explains Nezygar.
The bill also makes it possible to “reduce or increase the volume of budget expenditures depending on the receipt of certain types of income.”
“Such a tool also increases the efficiency and flexibility of financial policy, allowing you to quickly transfer resources, closing immediate acute problems,” the publication says.
And one last thing:”The limit on the cost of objectsthat the government can grant a subsidy for capital investments independently without approval has been removed.”
These and other innovations in budget management, combined with the creation of digital platforms, increase the role of the central government office and its analytical centers.
“At the same time, the role of the Ministry of Finance, which, in accordance with the principles of monetarism, claimed to be the main ideologist of budget policy and manager of public funds, is being leveled. In the new situation, the Ministry of Finance will perform its original accounting functions, “adds Nezygar.
“The bill also provides for specific measures to strengthen and balance regional budgets. In 2022, all 100% of revenues from excise taxes on medium distillates will be transferred to the federal budget (now these revenues are distributed in equal proportions between the regions and the center). The decrease in regional budget revenues will be offset by the transfer of an additional 4% of excise taxes on strong distillates to them, which will guarantee the receipt of 9 billion rubles to the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, ” the channel said.
Ah, really good news for Russia! Slava Bogu! IMF is like a huge snake that strangles nations to dead – by deciding how/where nations should allocate their budgets.
I was wondering could IMF be behind the somehow surprising vaccination policy of Russia? Possibly, if IMF still had leverage on Russia? Remember how Lukashenko mentioned, that the lockdown was a condition for the IMF loan?
What comes to upcoming changes of The Saker, I think that leaving Unz is wise – Unz is a great source and many commenters there are well informed – but as Saker and Unz clearly have a bit different worldviews, it makes no sense to do close co-operation, IMHO.
Also, leaving internal matters of US is wise – especially if Saker is getting more readers from his beloved Mother Russia.
In general, very good news, indeed.
Nikolai Starikov – Ruble Nationalization.
A roadmap?
Yeah, that’s great book – could be a roadmap:
https://www.amazon.com/Rouble-Nationalization-Way-Russias-Freedom/dp/5496014603
I must say that what comes to economic independence, Putin has been incredible patient – you could only hope that his patience finally bears the fruit.
I loved that book and did a review.
/book-review-starikovs-rouble-nationalization-the-way-to-russias-freedom/
much of the global south can read spanish.
it’s a pity there’s no edition of Starikov in spanish.
How about we make one?
I like Starikov, and he is sharp, until he talks about Stalin, at which point he becomes rather lame and silly.
But on modern Russia I often agree with his views.
A further reason to cut back on USA news: so much of it is literally about nothing.
The entire discourse is about delusional things, and essentially never about the truth. It is about what the magician flashed in his left hand while he slipped his right hand into his hat to pull out the rabbit.
o much of it is literally about nothing.
I TOTALLY agree and
I have NO more energy or inclination to argue about what with those who don’t.
So I won’t.
Andrei
Good changes.
Unzers were rude.
Interesting that more Russians read your blog.
You my try the byline “Andrei for the Saker Blog”. The Saker does have a nice ring to it.
Look forward to your comments.
Will donate if and when I get money.
“Andrei for the Saker Blog”
Adopted!
Thanks for a very good suggestion!
Andrei
Sounds good….simplify….simplify….simplest framework to cope with an ever more complex world. It is nice to see you in the comments section.
Any reference reading material you may recommend available in english would be good. If you can persuade russian media to produce more english material articles etc that would be fab. Do you need to refresh check the other websites that you provide links too?????
Cheers.
Any reference reading material you may recommend available in English would be good
You mean blogs the like?
There is a list on the drop down box on the top right “News Source” these are all news sources in English but about Russia.
I should add Moon of Alabama to that list
any other suggestions, by the way?
Cheers
Andrei
Maybe more stuff from Rotislav Ischenko or other Russian sources? С удовольствием смогу заниматься переводами))
Google translation,MOD:
I will be happy to do translations))
Ischenko definitey
will do others too, with time
but I try to say clear for machine translations – nobody needs the blog for that
I wouldn’t mind translating Ischenko and others myself. I used to work as an in-house translator for Sputnik and RT and I’m volunteering my help for this blog.
That sounds great Daniel.
In the event that The Saker misses your comment and your kind offer, I’ll take the liberty to send it along to him. OK?
Hi Daniel
Please drop me an email at vineyardsaker at gmail dot com.
Thanks!
Andrei
Well my previous comment makes no sense now re: statement on Mazaheri. Feel free to truncate as necessary
are you under the impression that your own comment above makes much sense?
Isso é apenas um teste. Acompanho o blog do saker há muitos anos, mas somente como leitor (pelo fato de não saber inglês evitei sempre escrever, mas como uso um tradutor automático para ler, gostaria de saber se posso escrever na minha língua e o saker traduzir o comentário ao recebê-lo). Saudações, muita saúde e paz.
Google translation,MOD:
This is just a test. I’ve been following the saker blog for many years, but only as a reader (because I don’t know English I’ve always avoided writing, but as I use an automatic translator to read, I would like to know if I can write in my language and the saker translate the comment when receiving it). Greetings, good health and peace.
Thank you!
If posting in a language other than English, please try to add a machine translation yourself, to save the mods the time.
Kind regards
Andrei
Obrigado!
Se postar em um idioma diferente do inglês, por favor, tente adicionar uma tradução de máquina você mesmo, para salvar os mods o tempo.
Obrigado
Andrei
Very glad to hear that Ramin Mazaheri’s writings will be returning to the blog. I came across a reference recently to an eleventh century Persian epic poem written by Fakhruddin As’ad Gurgani about the lovers Vis and Ramin. I wondered if this was the inspiration for the parents’ naming of our modern day poet Ramin.
Yes, Ramin is truly a rare unique “diamond”, a VERY original person, and a trusted good friend.
I love the man and I admire him.
I am happy that he got the holiday needed. And even a little jealous.
So I might do that too, but only for 7-10 days. somewhere far far in the boonies is my plan.
Probably in September, God willing.
Cheers
Andrei
Dear Saker; I’m most pleased to read all of the above. I think your decisions are right, right down the line. There’s no need for journalistic deadlines. This just feeds the viewers periodic craving for infotainment (it’s true; and me to!). Write when you want/need to. You’ve written a great deal, lots. You don’t need formal disciplines anymore. And the fact that you’ll be more closely related to your readers is, I’m sure, most welcomed by all. American politics. This is what everybody else does. Thinking about America too much is unwholesome. Most welcomed also is your increased notice by Russian readers. I think this is important. Who we are depends on our frame of reference. Referring to America all the time makes Jack a dull boy. I’d like to think that this might, even if only a teeny weeny bit, move things in the opposite direction from what we see with RT. With each passing month the site is getting more and more like the Daily Mail. Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine. You’d think that Russians would be capable of quality journalism, that Russians might actually have something worthwhile to contribute to the international commentariat. Whatever happened to that world historical literary tradition anyway? Well, we can hope. Podcasts, Yes! Pepe, Alastair Crooke (always very thoughtful and interesting). If ‘IndoPac’ issues are of interest, Peter Lee is as singular as Pepe. Am glad to hear about Ramin M. I’d noticed his absence. I was worried that there had been some falling out or some such. Much relieved. Unz. I respect Ron Unz and support him with his American Pravda efforts (aside from the ‘Stalin’s War business). But the comments section is regularly infested with the most vituperously aggressive screeds. I’m glad that Ron is standing up for free speech. But there’s no real communication there. Otherwise I’m out of sympathy with these ‘Alt-right’ folks. Identity politics construed around a core narrative of victimhood. Ghastly. Finally, I look forward to your ‘Vignettes’. Very briefly, in our time we are witnessing the decline and downfall of a long era of liberalism. There is a sea change – from liberty to ‘the good’, as was once upon a time the case everywhere. Thus, serious and genuine discussions of religious matters is of considerable importance.
I’m out of sympathy with these ‘Alt-right’ folks. Identity politics construed around a core narrative of victimhood
Exact same feelings here! Between them and the COVID-nutters something had to be done. I quit the former and banned the latter.
Now I can take a long, wonderful, lung-full sigh of fresh air! Finally.
Andrei
Hi Andrei –
thanks for lovely post – really good news all around
Blessings !!
Ann
Dear Ann
Yes, I am rather happy with all this and I look forward to the future with a lot of optimism and anticipation
hugs
Andrei
Good to hear Ramin will be back.
Perhaps here a guideline, based on what I see on this blog for many years:
The vision of a better world is based on nations demanding their sovereign right to implement their own culture, religion and traditions, reflected in their own aim of politics and economy, in a world guided by respect, tolerance and working towards mutual beneficial cooperation.
Globalization (Imperialsm) and the unipolar ‘diktat’ of a ‘rules based order’ is history.
Racism, of any type, is part and parcel of the old world order, including the psychotic believe that some nations are chosen and others not.
Societal values are above individual ones, and the Western attempt to overrule this is history too.
The well being of a society, again based on respect, tolerance and beneficial cooperation, reflects on the well being of the individual and his aim to progress in his quality of life.
The state (not ‘the invisible hand’ nor the ‘Darwinian competition’) is there to regulate truly equitably social and economic justice on societal (not individual) values.
Cheers from France.
Merci l’ami, pour tes conseil et ton support!
Et amitiés d’outre-Atlantique :-)
Andrei
Hi Saker
Hi Saker,
What do you think is best solution in fight against world hunger?
-1 To donate money, so that you save lives immediatly (for example through https://freedombakeries.org/about-us/), but this immediatly leads to point 2
-2 You give a man a fish, then he is hungry again in an hour.
But if you teach him how to fish you feed him for a lifetime.
A honest way to make poor countries self-sufficient in food production by helping them improve their agriculture for example
-3 you dont start horrible wars in poor countries, and then try to “patch” the situation with point 1.
What do you think is best solution in fight against world hunger?
Get rid of capitalism and replace it with a worldview/system in which the collective good primes the individual greed and a system which would be sustainable in the finite environment of our planet.
Money/greed/usury/banks – that is the cause of almost all our evils.
Cheers
Andrei
Hi Andrei,
I would like to offer my thoughts as context for the changes you are making to your site.
I feel something is happening in the online world, beyond the fetishized part.
I applaud your sensitivity to change.
Avoiding comments sections is my favourite kind of social distancing (depending where I find myself). May I suggest you consider your comments section like a stage: one doesn’t get up and jam with Bird if you haven’t spent any time in the woodshed. What would an online comments woodshed comprise?
I have advised some close friends to avoid US-centric web forums. They are too poisonous in so many ways. When I spent time in the US I said the only thing I liked about the USA is the people. Online is totally different.
On the Saker, I will gravitate towards Francis Lee, Pepe Escobar, Michael Hudson and Rahman Mazaheri. And the broadcasts from Nasrallah.
Recently I have attended the Naked Capitalism site. I like it’s apparent decentralized nature.
I recently returned to the Solari Report after a very very long time…it seemed ridiculous.
Zero hedge is a nest of vipers
I tend toward pantheism especially based in nature’s forces. I don’t care for people’s sexuality to be imposed upon me (as many gay people will understand) but LGBTQ is none of my business.
As long as race and gender are considered without including class, it’s just another liberal boondoggle.
“Liberal”= will fight for good and sensible things, as long as it doesn’t involve giving up privilege.
Andrei, you are not from a colonial by-product culture, some of us are. You should consider this.
Change is afoot, these are my personal viewpoints. Unspoken personal viewpoints will populate the comments section here.
I am turned away by egoism and the echo chamber in comments. Maybe once I would have seen those as opportunity.
In some ways the Taliban, for all their faults by a variety of sovereign cultural standards, are a standup inspiration…
Grab your beliefs and the basic necessities (that you probably have to fight for rather than carry with you) and go and make the world as you see fit.
Andrei, you are not from a colonial by-product culture, some of us are. You should consider this.
Yes, that is MAJOR issue for me. I know, very very well, that there are MILLIONS of US Americans and Europeans who really were brainwashed into believing the imperialist propaganda. The fact that they are wrong does not make them less sincere. How can I convey the truth to them without shattering their illusions or deeply offending them
After YEARS of warning about this or that, I brought it all together in my recent “Kabul” article and the vehemence of its rejection by the brainwashed was the biggest I have ever seen. How can I explain Kabul to them without explaining their own history first?!
Anyway, I will try to be softer in my tone, but much more direct in what I say.
I hope that it will drive away those who don’t like that and make things better for the rest of us.
Cheers
Andrei
I am happy and content with these small changes and very thrilled that Ramin has had his time-out and taking up his pen again. (After being assigned to the US election, I think he needed a few months off).
Andrei (The Saker) seems to have accomplished an easier flow, less responsive to the US messiness. That is good. What would flow really well, is if some of our excellent posters and commentators would now take this opportunity and write for us. If you have something you want to write about, I could be available for a little editing for new writers or helping to structure or something like that, if you feel you need a hand.
Then yes, we have to do a fundraiser so, kindly start even now. Please flow the prayers and the funds. The Saker blog is strong and going strong while living on a prayer, but money pays for servers. /contact-and-donations/
I have a name for all these new changes: “Creating Zone B while living in Zone A”.
When the US State department started declaring good information outlets, our friends, “disinformation outlets controlled by Russian intelligence services”, I stopped following US happenings as my very own personal sanctions regime. It felt like many years ago when I threw out the television – a new breeze blowing. My reading now is Russian News, although with an online translator but it’s easy with Yandex.Translate, China has major news sources in English and my friends let me know of stuff that I need to know about in the Chinese media, and from Iran Presstv.ir, I found I got all the news anyways, but just a tad healthier in tone. And then I follow Latin America as well. Together with a few reliable bloggers and independent journalists, all that gives me a better view on the world. There is a ZoneB but you have to get out of the western sphere to find it.
I’m happy that The Saker has his stuff sorted so that he can be more visible in the commenting. The blog has had all kinds of pressures and stresses. I don’t expect that to completely stop, there are always challenges but somehow we’re in a space of being more calmly resistant. It feels good!
Perhaps with encouraging high level commenting, we can get back to what Larchmonter calls ‘a salon of high quality discussion’ (or something like that), but it sounds really good when he says it 😄.
My hands are still on a raft of administrative aspects for The Saker blog and I guess this is where I’ll stay for now, as I fully believe we are still doing the right things, giving space to the right authors and sometimes despairing if the level of commentary falls into the gutter. What I can ask for, is pull up your pants boys and girls, men and women (we are still boys and girls, yes?) and also give back with excellent commentary.
Let’s not devolve into what Martyanov, talking about general commenting on the web, calls
“These are the most insane and illiterate people and they are incapable of tracing basic causalities.”
There still is no other place like this.
“No drive by link dropping will be tolerated”
Not sure if what I’ve been doing on the new chatter page is ‘drive by link dropping’. There are very few commentors on the new page…….although some things take time to grow.
Thoughts please
Cheers, M
Let’s not devolve into what Martyanov, talking about general commenting on the web, calls
“These are the most insane and illiterate people and they are incapable of tracing basic causalities.”
amarynth, you moderate? Right?
This is meant only for you, because I suspect that you must moderate following:
Saker has done exactly what Martyanov is speaking about – by insulting and dismissing his readers only because of difference of opinions. That includes some of his oldest and loyal community members – like for example me.
I’m not only talking about covid, there are also some other issues.
Even though it looks like these upcoming changes are good – this problem will remain. I think that many who still read this blog, don’t take Saker seriously anymore because of that.
I’ve followed him from 2014 – I even wrote an article for him about Donbass that time.
Also, in my opinion Sakers core issue is this above mentioned “incapability of tracing basic causalities” – which is understandable. But his attitude to his readers and supporters is not.
No, I don’t moderate. Not at all. Herb is manager of moderation and he handles that.
What I also do not do, is to be a public spokesperson for The Saker unless he specifically instructs and mandates me to do so which has happened at incredibly busy times and seldom. So, I don’t gossip about The Saker.
I am the assistant to the Saker and do different things as required and handle a bunch of routine issues. I sometimes comment on blog-related issues where it makes sense.
So, from those perspectives, I have no response for you. I guess you are talking to the wrong person. I don’t feel alienated at all. From a personal perspective, to my mind Andrei can say what he wants to say on his blog. I certainly do not make it personal as if every word is meant to me, personally. That would be Guru Territory.
Take what is good and leave the rest. What’s so hard about it.
Ok, it was only because I thought that you are the moderator. It’s been a bit painful here for a some time, because you will never know which comments will be moderated and which not.
So, no gossips, good that Herb let it through.
Well said.
Even though I disagree with Saker on covid issue, this is his house.
We are guests.
Agree to disagree.
And the forum is geopolitics, not medicine (albeit this one has strayed into this territory given the global and prolonged nature of the crisis) nor the latest conspiracy, although I love them all.
If he doesn’t want to hear it, so be it.
Maintain a thick skin, appreciate the intellectually stimulating forum and its unique strengths: an English-language window onto Russia, China, Iran and other points not usually discussed in Zone A.
Wishing you good health Saker!
You don’t invite guests to your house to insult them, I think that even very basic good manners demand that.
Here’s two examples of his continuing rudeness from this thread:
“are you under the impression that your own comment above makes much sense?”
“Between them and the COVID-nutters…”
He’s calling me and some others nutters, only because we are critical to vaccines.
Prospeller, I think that it is time you realized that I do, indeed, have a terrible opinion about about 98% of COVID dissidents. Even here, and even though the TOPIC OF COVID IS SPECIFICALLY BANNED by the rules. But, you did not feel the read to read them.
Had you read them, you would know who heads the moderation team (not Amarynth or me).
But you obviously never bothered.
And,
You even managed to bring you pet-topic into this column about minor changes to the blog.
In Russian we say “you can talk about any topic, but the one affected with lice will only talk about washing”.
THat is what you just did, again, with the typical self-centerdness of the COVID nutcases.
So, three options:
* You publicly pledge to follow the moderation rules by replying to me here*
* You nicely and quietly leave
* We ban you.
Which do you pick?
Andrei
PS: unless you reply by my end of day, consider yourself banned.
no reply,
Prospeller is now banned
The Saker
You don’t invite guests to your house to insult them
and when you feel insulted, you are free to leave. Just do it :-)
Agree to disagree.!
EXACTLY! But that is not something acceptable to a cult member who feels that he/she HAS to convince you. If they don’t, they feel personally insulted. Teenager and narcissists also do that. As do all the fanatics. That is why from now on if I sense once of them being here, I will directly inform him/her that this website does thoughtcrimes and that the Saker blog is ideologically impure. Finally, I have my own opinions which some fine offensive. That is their problem, not mine!
Kind regards
Andrei
its increasing clear to me your calculations are… well… rather ‘local’
anyhow, water can float a boat and water can sink a boat! simple fact of nature!
find out more in the next 3 mth then…. how much water left does these ‘small changes’ format really hold? sigh for me :(
still – may your god be for you and not against you
bwbs
p/s as I share w dear amarynth a far deeper law of nature – water flows at different levels! there is no way a deep currents skim at the surface just to breath a sigh of relief!
pp/s I dont know why you do not activate the most powerful weapon you hv at hand to solve your ‘little problem’ – big data is the choice of weapon (by china) against the private/foreign funded internet army and beat the crap out of them Every Time! if you know how to weaponise it and still keep your humanity intact!
I am delighted to hear about Ramin. May I adk what happened? His articles were outstanding.
Hi Lynda
Well, I could tease you and reply “and where have you been all this time?” – we missed you too!
As for Ramin, holidays happened, and he needed them.
He will be back very soon, no worries.
We are good friends and in regular contact.
How about you now? Could you update us on what you see around you were you live?
Hugs and cheers
Andrei
Thanks for asking. The question I am trying to answer concerns the very nature, purpose and function of the Jewish state in the Middle East. All the rest is mere anecdote. I hope to send you my findings soon.
Keep well and so happy to see you are flourishing.
I look forward to hearing from you!!!
hugs
Andrei
This time around can the webmaster(s) switch to the international day-month-year format (or the ISO’s year-month-day format) and 24-hour time? Thanks.
I can ask him, but that complicates scheduling posts, it is much easier for me to think of EST than GMT/UTM
cheers
I wasn’t thinking of time zones so much as date and time format (I think we discussed that once), but otherwise noted.
I like the change. More frequent articles and more participation in the comments section would enrich the site by reaching people as events occur. Readers here do value your perspective and more frequent interaction from you will certainly add to the discussion.
I still remember your early series on Russia years ago (atlanticists, eurasian integrationists (Eurasian sovereigntists. Mod.), etc), which blew me away at the time. Shining a light on Russian perspectives to North American audiences, especially now when more North Americans are waking up to the fact that their culture is in palliative care (and therefore may be open to other perspectives) is practically a public service. I look forward to learning more about that part of the world.
Thanks, I will keep that all in mind.
Kind regards
Andrei
Dear Saker/Andrei
I’m almost 100% certain that a recurrent theme in your Blog from the 7th September on though out October will be both the political and military situation in Brazil… Folks get your popcorn and cokes ready… because it is going to be bumpy over here. BTW Brazilian military authorities, few journalists and the Government have just reported and confirmed the presence of Russian radar/jamming equipment and personnel near the Brazilian border (Venezuelan side/Roraima state) and familiars of military personnel together with citizens have reported their consorts leaving home to the northern areas together with large movements of troops and military equipment to the frontier in the Amazon bassin… especially tanks (these are more ‘conspicuous’ to the public eyes) moving around the country.
A life Catholic (does that make me a Christian??) living in Brazil for over 25 years!