Dear friends,
How shall I put it… hmmm… maybe its the hurricane and my forced ‘vacation’, or maybe all the repeated outages of our server (we still have not found the root cause of them, out IT officers are still trying to find it), or it’s all the crazy events taking place in our world gone insane, or maybe you are setting aside for the now very possible WWIII – whatever may be the case, my last appeal for support has been rather disappointing. While many have send their support, many many more have not :-(
[Hey – new readers, I especially mean you!!]
So let me try this: let’s *pretend* like I will offer to make a special podcast only for those who actively support my word. And let’s *pretend* like this podcast will only be available behind a paywall. Of course, I will do nothing of the kind, and my work will always remain available for free and under a copyleft license, but since a lot of people are telling me that this is a much better way to finance my work, what we can do is *pretend* like I will produce some super-dooper-special “for top donors” only content. As long as you don’t just pretend that you are sending me a donation but do it for real – that could well work. And what a great way to screw the logic of capitalism by turning it over on its head!
So here is my offer: you have until Friday October 21st evening (local FL time) to send me two things:
1) Donations (yes, really, and please don’t forget…)
2) Questions for a “Q&A with readers” podcast
Please post the questions here (do NOT email them to me, please!!!). And since I have not made one of those for a long while, let’s make it a “everything is on-topic” kind – you can ask anything about anything, no banned topics, you can even ask personal question if you want, or even silly ones. For new readers this can be a “get to know each other” kind of podcast. But if you prefer serious stuff (Novorussia, the Ukraine, Putin, US Presidential elections, Syria, risks of WWIII, state of Russian armed forces, etc) that is also a good time to ask it.
And then, of course, I would post the full podcast here. And, of course, with no paywall or advertisements or any other of that kind of aggravation you are subjected to elsewhere.
Would that be tempting?
(-: the correct reply here is “yes, of course, great idea!!” :-)
Anybody opposed?
(I hear no “nays”)
Adopted.
Thank you all for your support and understanding.
Now keep ’em donations and questions coming in until Friday evening!
Hugs and cheers,
The Saker
I’ll try USD 500,- this time. Not as much as last time I know. Might take a week.
Regards
Kent
Questions for Saker’s podcast:
Iran is emerging as a natural ally of Russia, with both countries having to facedownTafiris and a hostile West and both having to contend with constant threats that are aimed at undermining their sovereignty and independence.
In light of this, I would like to know what is the likelihood that Russia would forge a closer security partnership with Iran, that would probably see it bringing Iran under its Nuclear umbrella?
Secondly when will Russia see it fit to let Iran access its top of line military hardware like the S-400 -already made available to China, now India- and it’s latest War planes and tankers, UN sanctions notwithstanding?
Finally, will Moscow ensure that Iran secure SCO membership become it’s tenure at the presidency expires?
That should actually be “before” its tenure…..
Dear Saker
I very much look forward to a new podcast. Please do it. My question goes in the silly-Q cat, however, after listening to latest Cross Talk with Peter Lavelle today I am still quite curious about a comment made about the Americans view of their own position, someone there said that amies[sic] do not vote on foreign politics but on internal issues. This subject is quite interesting as the whole world is subject to the consequences of their election, and as we, the rest of the world do not have a say, maybe we could at least better understand the underlying reasons behind this event.
Thanks,
Vercia V.
Dear Vercia, please send a clue as to what you mean by ‘amies’. I cannot correct it as ‘armies’ does not seem to fit the sense. I leave it as it is, for now. fk – mod
amies – slang for Americans (my guess).
Its a slang term used for “Americans” (Amies), in some countries. I think in France in particular (or at least started there).
“der Ami”, “die Amis” = German Slang for US-Americans, often but not neccessarily negative
Dear MOD,
amies is how americans are called in Switzerland where I live as Uncle Boba and Anon rightly guessed.
Maybe the podcast or another mini podcast can be used to directly send our sincere condolences to the family of Motorola somehow, even sent to Zakharchenko for example or broadcast maybe on dninews for example or novorossiyanewsyoutube if there is one??? and to people of Donbass, that they are not forgotten in the West and elsewhere, that we support them in their extreme troubles fighting against ukrop and their criminal sponsors……trying to keep their morale up after another noble human being has been assassinated and very sadly has been sent to Alex Notebook.
Last line should be …to “Mozgovoi”……not notebook….sorry.
They are really aware of who are supporting them in Europe and the world.
Mainly, antifascist people and organizations, some of whom not only have sacrified their scarce founds but also their security being blacklisted not only by the NATO governments who support the Nazi junta in Kiev but also by all the stay-behind groups and networks of far right scum who always do the dirty job for, as you say here, TPTB, for the dirty money.
Infantile trash. – franz
sure. i will transfer all of my savings right now. just wait a sec. opening my online banking…
What’s this then?? And why?
Kent
About moderation.
I’m grateful that you used my latest (and last I’m afraid) depiction of Hillary on your site. This one:
http://telemarksporten.no/Tegneserier/Hillary_War_Queen_Faces_of_Evil.jpg
“Last” because it takes so much out of me for each one, and this depiction in particular would be hard to match (for me anyway)
That being said, the only “half-Naked” truth in one of my previous comments (depiction), was not published. Why??
This one: http://telemarksporten.no/Tegneserier/Hillary_Garden_of_Evil_Medium.jpg
I do consider myself as a fairly decent person, and as it is often graphical depictions (along with comments, short ones) that is my humble contributions on various forums and in debates elsewhere, I do find that kind of censorship to be unfair, unnecessary, and straight out offensive.
You can delete the “garden of Eden” depiction if you like when publishing this comment, but I would appreciate an e-mail, explaining, why depictions of this relatively innocent nature are censored on this forum. I can assure you that I have made depictions as replies to “nasty” people on other forums quite a few times that are 100 times more offending than the one in question here, (and objectively speaking these “people” did deserve it).
About a “pay Wall”. Nothing to be discussed here really. Would kill the forum, which is one of the best there is (you all know the other ones).
Best Wishes
Kent
Is it beyond the realm of possibility that paypal is simply stealing the money that were meant for you, and only allows part of it to reach you, because you are the designated enemy, just like they were blocking money transfers for Julian Assange and Wikileaks for example?
Further about moderation:
Wouldn’t it be easier, and remove some of the workload, from moderators if some posters were removed from moderation, and automatically get posted immediately??
On the conditions off course that they strictly adhere to “clear” rules.
I, for one would accept being told in retrospective that I have violated said rules, with reasons why, and would adjust to this , or stop posting.
As of now, I do not feel comfortable at all, spending any time, posting here, or waiting for posts being either visible or just being ignored without any explanation whatsoever.
Regards
Kent
“Wouldn’t it be easier, and remove some of the workload, from moderators if some posters were removed from moderation, and automatically get posted immediately??
On the conditions off course that they strictly adhere to “clear” rules.” – Kent
“I recommend charging for a podcast. The formula that seems to be working in the alternative media is first hour free, second hour available if you are a subscriber. Charge between $5 to $10/month. Do at least one podcast a week.” – Dean Arnold
Both excellent ideas, and should be given due consideration, though even two podcasts a month would be sufficient.
“Both excellent ideas”
That’s decided it, my new Moniker is “Uncle Bob 1”
Obviously there would need to be some sort of login system with password…..
I recommend charging for a podcast. The formula that seems to be working in the alternative media is first hour free, second hour available if you are a subscriber. Charge between $5 to $10/month. Do at least one podcast a week.
This way you still offer info for free (and everyone can read it for free), but you also provide a way for your eager followers to help allow you to continue doing this. If that’s evil capitalism, so be it. I call it common sense.
I go to your website every day. One of probably four or five that I rely on for my main info. The others draw a much larger audience and can get ad revenue. Subscriber income makes sense for you. I am willing to pay for it. But human nature being what it is, I probably won’t send you money if I don’t have to. (I think I’ve done so a couple times in the past few years.)
By principle I am not a news subscriber – nowhere except one monthly journal. Instead I give money in sizeable chunks once to twice a year to people/organizations I support. This way I find it much easier to keep track of my spending.
As commenters question the reliability of PayPal, this year’s total should be 300 USD.
Cheers,
Marcel
I am truly sorry. This just doesn’t work for me. It might be that moderator(s) have a shitload of work, or have gone to a much needed sleep. Still, Snail mail might be better. (I do that occasionally).
From intro to this:
“Please post the questions here (do NOT email them to me, please!!!). And since I have not made one of those for a long while, let’s make it a “everything is on-topic” kind – you can ask anything about anything, no banned topics, you can even ask personal question if you want, or even silly ones. For new readers this can be a “get to know each other” kind of podcast. But if you prefer serious stuff (Novorussia, the Ukraine, Putin, US Presidential elections, Syria, risks of WWIII, state of Russian armed forces, etc) that is also a good time to ask it.”
I’m out of here as a poster. sorry.
Regards
Kent
Hi Saker ! Great deal – I can hardly wait for the podcast – maybe I can even transcribe it ?
Ann
Saker,
Why not use some kind of a “donation meter” graphic on your page that shows your fund raising goal and the amount donated? That would allow feedback for the readers. It could be manually updated or something more elaborate like:
http://www.donationstracker.com/
Hi Saker,
I once sent you a question about Russia in the Napoleonic era, particularly as seen through the contrasting reigns of Tsars Paul and Alexander: would it be fair to view Paul’s assassination as something like a modern-day “regime change” in which a “Eurasian sovereigntist” was deposed in favour of an “Atlantic integrationist?” (After all, the Continental System to which Paul adhered was the closest we’ve ever come to Putin and De Gaulle’s “Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok”). If one considers the French Empire as oriented not primarily against Russia, but against the depredations of the British (who wanted a truncated France reduced to vassal status, something achieved after Waterloo), the Franco-Russian War was effectively fought for the sole benefit of the English, who reaped the reward of uncontested hegemony for the next hundred years (much like the Americans took most of the spoils from Russia’s sacrifices in 1941-5).
This is not to rehabilitate Napoleon or his invasion of Russia, since he was as guilty as anyone of stupid Russophobic prejudices. But recall, also, that Napoleon was virtually the first ruler in history to be subjected to the “Putin treatment” precisely because he, like Putin, defended the higher interests of his country: again and again, the British insisted that their war was “not against the French,” but against the tyrant, usurper, “Ogre” Napoleon who “had to go” for France to reclaim its rightful place among “Christian nations” (today’s “international community”). (Metternich, in private, complained bitterly about the mendacity of the British, noting that every Frenchman would march with Napoleon if they had the chance.)
More on the missed Franco-Russian alliance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_March_of_Paul
Lol, what british lands were there in 1801?
They just had Bengal & some parts of South.
Lol, if you want to march from Kabul to Amritsar. We kill more than our fair share, even with three knives in our back.
ਸਤਿਸ਼੍ਰੀਅਕਾਲ।।
Actually, 1801 was a mere two years before the British achieved lasting military supremacy on the subcontinent at the Battle of Assaye; it’s not inconceivable that the arrival of Franco-Russian forces could have tipped the military balance against the British (assuming they managed to get to India by that route — not a prospect I would relish). In any case, the question was less about the logistical practicality of that expedition than about the death of Paul and the world-historical consequences of a missed Franco-Russian entente.
Your making things over complicated IMO. Your goal is to get funded. Our goal is to have you funded, while “efficiently” spending (aka we have our own up & downs too). Two classics
1) the monthly funding bar. Give an indication top right of where you are with monthly funding.
2) patreon is a thing now. Basically the same, but more streamlined.
https://www.patreon.com/
Also dream big. Get some extra money for the collaborators. Don’t have to be income / salary (pro bono work has a special quality that’s precious to the readers IMO) but mark of appreciation (like funding a monthly Saker meeting somewhere for the team).
Finally remember; regular reminders work best than the occasional alarm. Put an incentive line telling people they can help at the end of every article.
Last idea (imo totally legit): make commenting a “pay wall” options. Comments require moderation aka work. Also tends to get the trolls away. Note that this doesn’t mean payer would get it easier with moderation either.
You may be one of the news, but for your information, there were prople here who volunteer as moderators and also were dedicated and appreciated commenters who, for whatever reassons, mainly, as I could read here, related to censured/banned/ editomments without any explanation of why these comments were not published, as is the claim of Kent above, finally do not comment here anymore or on rarely special ocassions as yesterdaMotorola’s killing or Mr. Putin’s bithday….
Please do not put a funding meter anywhere on your site or any site you may have. From a psychological perspective it does more harm than good, and with the skill at hand and the user base in place there is no need to grovel. What is needed is a smartly executed monetization structure. A small monthly subscription package with benefits for subscribers, benefits such as that second or third hour of the podcast, and first access to certain materials.
80% free content is generous enough to not create an aura of exclusion, yet there is enough extra meat for subscribers that its worth their $5 per month. Ready thanks to subscribers for their continued support, and the site becomes monetized. Additional streams can include a store which offers products of common use and interest.
There is nothing greedy in monetizing the site, it will allow the nerve center to grow organically, and even expand as it determines best.
RI has an interesting approach too. If I figured it out correctly, their proposed maximum donation at the page bottom scales with the urgency to get funding. Currently, it seems that their financing is fine.
What do you think of the AltRight?
Paypal in some countries (ie Japan, where I reside) won’t accept donations, so your suggestion is perfect. if I buy a subscription, then they will happily process the transaction.
As it is question time, there is a lot of rumour of a big breakthrough in Japan Russia relations when Mr. Putin visits Japan in November. Local TV is starting to showcase Russian food, culture, Russian speaking Japanese, and other entertainment revolving around visiting Russia. this is always a sign of something turning in ruling class policy.
So, my question, despite emphatically turning down “islands for peace treaty and proper commercial relations” earlier this year, might Mr. Putin have a change of heart, and agree to accept the format that was agreed in the 1950s for the return of the 2 smaller islands to Japan in the Northern Territories when he visits Tokyo?
I don’t think there’s any use in trying to read the future, but it would be fascinating to hear the view on Japan’s geopolitical situation from the Saker’s perspective.
I also live here, and I do not watch TV but I have seen the shows you mentioned just by accident when other people watch TV around me. I did not think about the shift, but you are right that this is a very new phenomenon and quite curious.
Dear Saker, here is my question,
1. Instead of just blaming the Anglo-Zionist Empire for all the ills in the world, how about the general people who have moved away from religion, spirituality and simple living to hyper-liberal, anti-spiritual, consumerist ,materialist and the greed and drive to ‘possess and own’ things and money?
I would love to hear from you about the general degradation of Culture and the soul of the human spirit and why we as a species have drifted away so far? and How can we destroy this crass goofy culture?
Greetings from India,
Sid
That is a very good idea.
Hi Saker,
Thank you for your work, it is extremely important at this point in history as the willingness of the western populations to go to war will dictate whether there is one. Their willingness will be dictated not by armies but by information, and that is where your work and that of others like you will be the deciding factor I fear. As such, do you have any ideas how to expand your user base and reach the masses who are under the influence of mass media?
Regards,
Aleks
PS: I hope my small donation makes a difference in your (and by extension my) fight for peace
Hello Saker,
maybe you should check the problems Jim Stone has with receiving money through paypal.
He places the names on his website otherwise the money will be stolen by paypall.
Your website is disturbing enough for TPTB that they will take the trouble to disturb your website and moneyflow.
I’m an anti-imperialist environmentalist studying the unraveling of the biosphere and the collapse of industrial civilisation. We are in the early stages of runaway abrupt climate change that will soon make this planet uninhabitable.
A significant element in the coming nuclear war between The USA is terrorist nation #1 and Russia and China is the fact that the only action that can slow down runaway abrupt climate change. I ask you all to consider this aspect of the coming war and the motivation behind it.
https://kevinhester.live/2016/06/15/the-inevitability-of-nuclear-war-and-subsequent-nuclear-winter/
It’s not that we don’t want to donate… it’s that its literally hard times man (you think you’re hurting?)
The first commentator is saying how he’ll aim for $500 and that’s not as much as his usual donations.
Let me say this: $500 is enough to cover most website fees for several years. Some small businesses pay $200 a year for unlimited hosting websites so if you need more then that you might need to reconsider how you organize your website.
What have you become? NASA? With invoices that read $5000 per hammer and $40,000 per toilet? Unless you’re running your own hosting company in some neutral country in which the costs are exuberant you shouldn’t need more than $500 to keep the website operational. Heck there are a lot of authors who are critical of the West who operate websites on Google or through their own domain from network solutions and barely scratch the $300-400. You think Iceland, a country that followed IMF orders to the letter in ’08, will protect you or your data?
It’s the US-made, NSA-monitored internet…never forget it. Don’t over complicated things and add costs to yourself that don’t really do anything (like hosting in Iceland).
I recommended this a year ago. Better late than never.
Hi saker my question, the soviet union collapsed without nuclear war in my view because those in charge were more interested in enriching themselves. Why would the US be any different in collapse? I think corrupt hillary may be evil but she’ll be more interested in enriching her and bill and paving the way for chelsea’s political career. The same may be true for the others in power. What does the saker think about this type of dillema between launching a suicidal nuclear war over just the corrupt lining their own pockets over their own citizens.
Would it be possible to get a ‘crib sheet’ for myth busting the common anti-Russian diatribes the media rolls out? Searching on the internet is v difficult as pages and pages of crap from corporate media.
I’d be happy to put this together with your help. Top myths:
Putin kills journalists
Mass rapes by Red Army
Athlete doping
Hacking
Pussy riot (lord help us!)
Homosexuality particularly internet law
Putinisation ie Putin is a dictator
Protest suppression e.g. What are the laws?
Of course once you throw facts at people they tend to shut up. But facts are difficult to find except here and some other places. For people who have been indoctrinated it is probably best to give them bullet points as their minds have been cluttered.
Keep up the good work!
@EVERYBODY:
Thanks for your submission of questions (and your suggestions).
The deadline for submissions is now passed
I will reply to your questions in my next podcast.
Thanks a lot!
The Saker
i’ll keep throwing down my canadian $ as long as you keep up this awsome site.i do my best to direct people here and remind them that you are completely independant.keep up the good work