This was fun. My mother and sister were both Jeanne Dixon fans/followers/believers. True believers. I was the one who read science fiction so of course, I didn’t have a firm grip on reality, apparently. People are funny.
My mother was sure she could tell when someone was about to die. She could see it in their eyes. I asked her if she ever warned them of their impending doom. No, that’s far too personal, though she happily chatted about it afterwards even to the dearly departed’s family. People are weird.
I have to admit I’ve neglected Vanga, her communist official, the poet and the KGB over the years. But I do appreciate you bringing us up to date on the old dead bat. I hope the KGB, the niece, and others made sure she had a comfortable old age. Being blind in a village in the middle of nowhere could not have been easy.
Her “prophesy” re Russia doesn’t worry me in the slightest (not to mention the aliens, I like that idea) least of all the mention of “Vladimir”. One of the most common names in that neck of the woods. Maybe she meant “Vlodomyr”. It’s not as if she wrote her prophesy down. Though the Kursk was a nice touch. I remember the story but not her prediction.
The Daily Mail and the TO Sun always write bullshit. I’ll drop in occasionally for the laugh of it but I never expect anything valuable or truthful from them. I know there are people who swear it’s all true. I wish I knew how to figuratively shake them by the lapels and figuratively scream in their faces to smarten up. But I don’t. The editors etc all know it’s crap but crap sells “papers”, more now than ever. I’m old enough to remember when it was different. Newspapers and Jack Webster were honest and true. The Georgia Straight kept us informed on all the more important stuff, like music and protests. How did we manage?
I was banned from Twitter almost exactly 2 years ago. I’m not sure what I did. I’m pretty sure I was saying something rude about Trump. I asked last week to be allowed back in thinking everyone else is allowed back in, so why not me? Nope, I am far too dangerous apparently. I am at Post now (following you and Aaron Rupar) and while I’m still learning my way around, it’s lovely and shiny new.
I really enjoyed the Flamethrowers, twice. Maddow’s Ultra is incredible. On both, I kept wishing for more. Fascinating history that is seemingly overlooked too often. I will check out Jill Lepore’s, The Last Archive. I still love my science fiction (not fantasy) but history is not so different really.
In the meantime, may your Christmas, Hanukkah, & Festivus be happy and shiny bright with all the people you love.
And the same to all of you who visit here. Am I the only one who feels like it just snuck up too quickly?
Hanukkah Sameach! 🕎 🕎 🕎 Jelly donuts for everyone!
I confess to having never heard of Vanga until I saw a headline this week that launched me down this research rabbit hole.
There's an interesting beat about Putin. I think I recommended it in the newsletter a few weeks ago, but The Story of Russia (Orlando Figes) is such an interesting way into a millenia of Russian history. The symbolism of Vladimir Putin pushing towards Kyiv, overseen by the statue of Prince Volodymyr — the father of Kievan Rus', the mythical state that Putin wants so desperately to recreate — is not lost on many Russians. I'm always cautious to not ascribe too much high-handed motive to despots, but I think Putin is both genuinely superstitious and also aware of how much myth and legend can captivate people.
I don't think we talk enough about how corrosive the Mail is. It's tapped right into the MAGA world and is doing very well from it.
And I'm no great fan of Post News, to be honest. It's shiny, but it lacks the inter-personal, social aspects of Twitter. I'm increasingly a fan of Mastodon. I think it might be *the* future. The Washington Post just announced they are betting big on it.
Hanukkah Sameach to you too! (And happy holidays to everyone, since I apparently forgot to make that wish in the body of the newsletter. Whoops!)
Sorry you're in the blue bird's penalty box....
If you keep up with this kind of nonsense, I see good things happening for you
This was fun. My mother and sister were both Jeanne Dixon fans/followers/believers. True believers. I was the one who read science fiction so of course, I didn’t have a firm grip on reality, apparently. People are funny.
My mother was sure she could tell when someone was about to die. She could see it in their eyes. I asked her if she ever warned them of their impending doom. No, that’s far too personal, though she happily chatted about it afterwards even to the dearly departed’s family. People are weird.
I have to admit I’ve neglected Vanga, her communist official, the poet and the KGB over the years. But I do appreciate you bringing us up to date on the old dead bat. I hope the KGB, the niece, and others made sure she had a comfortable old age. Being blind in a village in the middle of nowhere could not have been easy.
Her “prophesy” re Russia doesn’t worry me in the slightest (not to mention the aliens, I like that idea) least of all the mention of “Vladimir”. One of the most common names in that neck of the woods. Maybe she meant “Vlodomyr”. It’s not as if she wrote her prophesy down. Though the Kursk was a nice touch. I remember the story but not her prediction.
The Daily Mail and the TO Sun always write bullshit. I’ll drop in occasionally for the laugh of it but I never expect anything valuable or truthful from them. I know there are people who swear it’s all true. I wish I knew how to figuratively shake them by the lapels and figuratively scream in their faces to smarten up. But I don’t. The editors etc all know it’s crap but crap sells “papers”, more now than ever. I’m old enough to remember when it was different. Newspapers and Jack Webster were honest and true. The Georgia Straight kept us informed on all the more important stuff, like music and protests. How did we manage?
I was banned from Twitter almost exactly 2 years ago. I’m not sure what I did. I’m pretty sure I was saying something rude about Trump. I asked last week to be allowed back in thinking everyone else is allowed back in, so why not me? Nope, I am far too dangerous apparently. I am at Post now (following you and Aaron Rupar) and while I’m still learning my way around, it’s lovely and shiny new.
I really enjoyed the Flamethrowers, twice. Maddow’s Ultra is incredible. On both, I kept wishing for more. Fascinating history that is seemingly overlooked too often. I will check out Jill Lepore’s, The Last Archive. I still love my science fiction (not fantasy) but history is not so different really.
In the meantime, may your Christmas, Hanukkah, & Festivus be happy and shiny bright with all the people you love.
And the same to all of you who visit here. Am I the only one who feels like it just snuck up too quickly?
Hanukkah Sameach! 🕎 🕎 🕎 Jelly donuts for everyone!
I confess to having never heard of Vanga until I saw a headline this week that launched me down this research rabbit hole.
There's an interesting beat about Putin. I think I recommended it in the newsletter a few weeks ago, but The Story of Russia (Orlando Figes) is such an interesting way into a millenia of Russian history. The symbolism of Vladimir Putin pushing towards Kyiv, overseen by the statue of Prince Volodymyr — the father of Kievan Rus', the mythical state that Putin wants so desperately to recreate — is not lost on many Russians. I'm always cautious to not ascribe too much high-handed motive to despots, but I think Putin is both genuinely superstitious and also aware of how much myth and legend can captivate people.
I don't think we talk enough about how corrosive the Mail is. It's tapped right into the MAGA world and is doing very well from it.
And I'm no great fan of Post News, to be honest. It's shiny, but it lacks the inter-personal, social aspects of Twitter. I'm increasingly a fan of Mastodon. I think it might be *the* future. The Washington Post just announced they are betting big on it.
Hanukkah Sameach to you too! (And happy holidays to everyone, since I apparently forgot to make that wish in the body of the newsletter. Whoops!)
It’s been more than 4 days now? No? How come they didn’t unlock the account?
I've been put in time out for a whole week!
Great read as usual. Happy Holidays Justin. I have shared on Twitter but as a nobody don’t know how far it will go lol.