Oh, sh*t, here we go again.
This month has been an emotional rollercoaster, marking two years of the war in Ukraine. It feels strange reflecting on it now. I’ve been deeply involved in the Russian opposition for over a decade, but these days, I feel like I'm distancing myself from it all. The turning point was the death of Alexei Navalny, which shook most of the anti-war Russian community. But what scares me is how little I felt. It was like a numbness, and that lack of reaction startled me more than anything else.
I'm sorry to be a vibe ruiner, but it is what it is. You can't escape the things that important to you. You can try to distance yourself from everything you want, but if it is something you have a lot of feelings and emotions about, you will go through it. BUT! Being here in Serbia - I'm still enjoying my life and everything it has to give. Something I could never do living back in Moscow.
So, let's get to positive stuff I can recommend from this month.
Book - The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis
Ellis is a master of blending reality with fiction, and this semi-autobiographical novel really pulls you into the gritty, sun-soaked world of 1980s LA. If you’re a fan of American Psycho, you’ll definitely appreciate the darker tones and psychological depth of The Shards.
Song - You Know by Keys N Krates
Keys N Krates never disappoint, and this track kept me sane through all the chaos. Perfect balance between intensity and calm – just what I needed this month.
Movie - Bob Marley: One Love
Everyone who knows me at least somehow personally knows how much this man changed my life, my perception of world, and how much respect I have for him and some of his children, who definitely got his wisdom and perspective - either by some genetics or just a good parenting. The latter is a big question and the movie is slightly touching this. But mostly this movie is just about how much of a character Bob Marley really was. So show it to everyone who is still not impacted enough by him.
Documentary - Navalny
You know why it's here. It’s a powerful portrayal of his life, his battle for justice, and his tragic downfall. It left me feeling conflicted – both connected to and detached from the cause I once gave so much to.
Also, I have a video about this documentary. Yeah, it's basically the only video on this channel and I'm not sure it's gonna change (oops, I did it again).
YouTube - Chipi Chipi Chapa Chapa
Let me just change the mood, at least a little bit... for 10 hours? And ruin your next week or even month, because this song is going to stuck in your mind. Enjoy!
Important News - Navalny
No words... Stunning AI model's works previews. Nothing is going to replace the creatives on their jobs, but we have to understand all of this, it's going to make our art better, easier to make and even more polished.
That's it. February was a month of reflection, distance, and confusion. But sometimes, letting go of old emotions makes space for something new — even if we don’t quite know what that is yet.
