my quirky sense of humor

British historian Ian Kershaw believes that the war will be over by the middle of next year.


Russia is isolated. It needs China. China is having its own problems and can't risk sanctions now. He made clear his "concerns" over the war in September and on Friday referred to the war as "complicated and quite controversial international situation."


Russia needs India. But India's Modi wrote an article for a Russian paper calling for an end to war. 


Some think India and China would have been more supportive if Russia had only won faster but they are now worried about escalation. 


Putin always kept only a close inner circle but he's got a bigger gulf between himself and the other elite in the country. I'm sure it doesn't help that so many of them seem to be falling out of windows this last year. Putin canceled his annual New Year's Eve meeting with the country's billionaires, those who haven't fled the country, officially citing infection risks. While the majority of Russia still support Putin, the elite think next year will suck. They think there may be another draft and they definitely think the economic situation will be worse. "everything they build collapsed for no reason." 


Retired American lieutenant general Mark Hertling said Putin is running out of weapons. He doesn't think China will provide military aid. 


Russia lost 16 armored personnel carriers today. 


A dance company formed in response to the new invasion, the United Ukrainian Ballet, made of more than 70 ballerinas. A few months into the war Ukraine gave some men special dispensation to leave the country. Zelensky's wife was a force behind their mission to preserve Ukraine's culture. They perform all over the world and raise money for Ukraine. Swan Lake, when performed in Russia, represents political upheaval. For many of these dancers it now means a form of protest, a conversion from a sentimental story about that struggle between good and evil, to a story about authoritarianism, lying, cheating, and losing. At the end of the performance the dancers stand together and sing the Ukrainian national anthem. One ballerina holds a sign that reads, "make dance, not war."