Vermont resident since 2007
Joined May 2008
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I became a U.S. citizen while voluntarily serving as an infantryman in the U.S. Army. The America I know and love did not elect a narcissistic, vile, lying, vulgar, braggart as president. And yet here we are. America contains multitudes.
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
Man sits by me on train.
MAN: Loads of psychopaths around here
ME: Really?
MAN: Loads mate
ME: How'd you know?
MAN: There's signs aren't there?
ME: I guess?
MAN: I love them
(47 minutes of awkward silence.)
Man leaves train, he has a bike. I realise he was saying 'cycle paths'.
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
For those who wonder how the election could still considered close, it may be useful to recall this 2016 David Sedaris portrait of undecided voters in that year's election.
Brave woman.
Ksenia Fadeyeva, the former head of Navalny’s headquarters in the Siberian city of Tomsk, has shared the first message with her supporters following Thursday’s swap between Russia and the West.
She thanked everyone for the support and well wishes, noting that the swap clearly became the first moment of joy in a while for many.
She said that she “gave no consent to the swap in any way. I deliberately decided not to leave Russia in 2021 before my criminal case had been opened and did not flee when the investigation had been ongoing, while I was still free”.
She said that FSB agents put all the prisoners exchanged by Russia in a van and then on a plane without providing any information to them.
She promised to share her plans for the future at a later date, once she had a moment to process what has happened.
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
Outrageous that we need to write this to begin with, but a small light on what Evan, a handful of other Americans and countless Russians have had to endure.
@WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich is being trialed in secret by a legal system that has shown no evidence to back its indictment, a system operating largely at the service of Russia's powerful security apparatus. Our story w/@tggrove on how it all works wsj.com/world/russia/evan-ge…
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
I’ve posted this before, but it is relevant today as the Euros begin:
July 2021, England-Ukraine. Moscow.
I’m cheering on England with friends
The Russians are all supporting Ukraine, while some Ukrainians wear kits and fly their flag. In Central Moscow.
Looks surreal in 2024
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
Wow.
This video is truly eye-opening.
Take a couple minutes to watch this.
A mind-boggling visual representation of wealth inequality in America.
This sh*t ain’t workin’, folks. #TaxBillionaires #UnionsForAll
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
“My political creed is classical. Freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of art. Portraits of the head of the government should not exceed a postage stamp in size. No torture & no executions”-Vladimir Nabokov, born 125 yrs ago this year (photo from his time at Cambridge)
Three weeks ago, my mother died at home. She lived with my wife & me during the last four and a half years. We were very close, and I miss her very much. She survived horrors & tragic losses, but goodwill, kindness & love for simple natural beauty never abandoned her. I love her.
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
Sergei Rachmaninoff, clearly eager to hear more about your extremely gifted 10 year-old son Aidan, who can already play "Für Elise" by memory and is going to be really, really famous someday.
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
If you're not familiar with Dmitry Markov's work, I can't recommend it enough: instagram.com/dcim.ru/?hl=en
Kolya @kolyavt.bsky.social retweeted
"Помесь гопника с ментом."
Sublime
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Wow. Such a good story. It’s very short. Savor it.
A new story in Electric Lit from @sannewman, about a previous husband.
electricliterature.com/skoo-…
WWII. My mother loves nature. Once, though, many years ago, while escaping for her life, she was struck that the bloody scene she was fleeing from was during a sunny day, amid cheerful wildflowers, in a beautiful valley. She was struck by how indifferent nature was to the horror.
This clip from 2004 (19years ago) resurfaces every once in a while, but it’s still worth it.
This clip of Russian opposition politician Vladimir Ryzhkov on TV in 2004 has recently resurfaced thanks to @CurrentTimeTv
His warnings for the country’s future are frighteningly prophetic
You might also recognise the presenter…