The Box of Chocolates Thread (You never know what you're going to get!)
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I'm sure some of you have heard of Bellingcat and Christo Grozev - if not, recommend looking those names up.Putin is not his biggest fan. This **** is wild to say the least, both petrifying and hilarious at the same time:
I wish this was the only story of a Russian intelligence story that involves corrupt businessmen, poorly trained criminals, hatred for a free press and disregard for human life, but it is more of a pattern than anything else. When you look at Russian FSB operations, it is generally very difficult to see where the mafia ends and where the intelligence organizations begins. Then you realize that that they are actually fused together, and it all makes sense.
And yes, the screwups are funny and pathetic. The idea of the FSB paying and being led a long by people stupid enough to use toilet paper for a disguise is unquestionably funny. Stupidity like that is the price to pay for a system based on corruption, not merit.
However, we live in societies with a lot of trust and often keep our guard low, so even mistake-ridden amateurs are dangerous. Christo Grozev got lucky. For those that actually do end up
, or end up , there isn't much to laugh at.
And yes, the screwups are funny and pathetic. The idea of the FSB paying and being led a long by people stupid enough to use toilet paper for a disguise is unquestionably funny. Stupidity like that is the price to pay for a system based on corruption, not merit.
Needless to say, I agree with the sentiments expressed in the rest of your post. Obviously, being Russian myself, this all hits rather close to home. I just wanted to single out this part though and point out that it was specifically when I got to the toilet paper bit that I decided to post the video and recommend it to others, both things I do very rarely. It was just the absurdity of it all and the Pink Panther-esque escapades of these clowns that I found unique. As you observe, the rest is unfortunately far from unique.
I will also add that I am very impressed with the light-hearted spin Christo manages to put on things, considering these people did not have the kindest intentions towards him, to put it mildly. I guess he is probably more immune to this sort of thing than the average person given his line of work, but it's still rather impressive to me.
Needless to say, I agree with the sentiments expressed in the rest of your post. Obviously, being Russian myself, this all hits rather close to home. I just wanted to single out this part though and point out that it was specifically when I got to the toilet paper bit that I decided to post the video and recommend it to others, both things I do very rarely. It was just the absu
I can imagine being Russian or or Russian descent is conflicting these days. For what it is worth, for all my negative statements on Russia and its regime, I am (though admittedly a bit more warily these days) fond of Russian culture.
As for Grozev's courage. You don't do serious investigative journalism on Russia without some serious brass balls. Which is why serious investigative journalism on Russia is rare. Most media operates on the issue without much insight, relying instead on secondary or even tertiary sources.
Sadly, it is not really a trait that is rewarded much anymore. For all of the people that bemoan what media has become, most of those people seem more than content to doom-scroll algorithm-pumped headlines on social media.
Consider that influencer and
Tim Pool was paid
Why do you take videos from other channels and reupload them to your own channel instead of just posting the original? I noticed you do with a Jomboy video in SE as well.
Why do you take videos from other channels and reupload them to your own channel instead of just posting the original? I noticed you do with a Jomboy video in SE as well.
Stealing the work of others and taking all the credit? Keeping it classy like a true capitalist!
The beautiful irony of this entire debate is that Orwell's wrote plenty of criticism of Nazi-Germany, and he a lot of it in a two-year period when criticism of Nazi Germany would have been illegal to print in Soviet Union press ('39 - '41).This was also pushed by Cominterm, so plenty of Soviet Union-aligned communist parties in Europe followed suit and supported the Ribbentrop
I still haven't seen in addressed why Orwell, who spent his life fighting nationalism, must be criticized for not using strong enough words. A criticism, I might add, which is clearly levied by people who never read the words they criticize...
... yet the country which entered a pact with Hitler and made it illegal to criticize Nazi-Germany as it started its wars in Europe, and the various communist parties in Europe that followed their lead and supported an alliance with Nazi-Germany is by those same people seen as moral and just.
Is this thread like /b/? I have a great meme, I just need Rococo’s consent
THIS! is my problem with you.
There is already a thread for political memes.
Why do you CONTINUALLY look to post something where it doesn't belong or..... start new threads where it is completely! unnecessary due to an existing thread on the topic?
THIS! is my problem with you.
There is already a thread for political memes.
Why do you CONTINUALLY look to post something where it doesn't belong or..... start new threads where it is completely! unnecessary due to an existing thread on the topic?
I’d be happy to post it where it belongs. May I know where exactly?
Im a Chomsky’s fan you know, and not only because of the destinations he visited, but mostly for his intellectual work, Manufacturing Consent precisely
