Talia Carner's HOTEL MOSCOW Earns its Place on the Permanent Bookshelf

ISBN 978-0-06-238859-9 from Harper Collins, New York, New York, 2015.  Available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Shop Indie Bookstores, and iTunes.

Authenticity and accuracy mark this work of historical fiction literally from chapter one.  As the protagonist, Brooke Fielding, arrives at Sheremetyevo  International Airport just north of Moscow, Russia in 1993, she confronts what many Jewish-Americans - and especially female Jewish-Americans - who have been through the security check recognize as "customs" lingering from the Soviet era.  "Speshiy iy zhdiy."  "Hurry up and wait." And while you're waiting, endure a hint of anti-Semitism, a measure of curiosity, a dash of chauvinism and a dose of intimidation.  That's just the beginning of this page-turner in which Talia Carner's gutsy and proactive heroine arrives as a citizen-diplomat to teach business skills to Russian women, turns accidental sleuth, and leaves fleeing for her life.  This 38 year-old, savvy New York executive lives a lifetime in a week's time as she is sucked into the maelstrom that Moscow became in October 1993 when, under Boris Yeltsin, the social order collapsed, a political revolt turned military, and economic dislocation pulverized any remaining sense of safety or security for Russian citizens.  Particularly vulnerable were Russian women - Brooke's charges, two of whom she finds herself befriending and defending against the misogyny of the culture and the excesses of a city gone lawless.  And in doing so, she finds herself learning what it means to be secure in one's identity while vulnerable in one's country of birth. 

Brooke winds up on the receiving end of a gut-wrenching education in the realities of domestic, professional and national life for Russian women.  No privacy at home.  Few to no amenities like bathing, restroom and laundry facilities and even scanter kitchen appliances, foodstuffs or cookware.  Antiquated sex education.  Severely limited access to routine healthcare and emergency medical attention.  And all these anvils on the shoulders of Russian women exacerbated by the scourge of alcoholism among Russian men that brought violence and sexual assault to women in their own homes just as the rise of mafia-like crime families brought plundering, murder and rape to their newly privatized factories and workplaces.  In the transition from the Soviet period was the utter absence of anything related to sustenance that women in modern times and first world countries might build on as foundations for their stability. 

If there was one sanctuary for Russian women, it was friendship, and Talia Carner's heroine embraces it.  Here too, the authenticity of this novel and setting are spot-on.  "Druzhba," as the Russians say, is the distinctly Russian brand of camaraderie and loyalty that binds as tight as DNA and runs deeper than compatibility or confluence of interests.  It's primal.  And it was as necessary as oxygen for survival in Moscow at that time.  It is through Brooke's friendships that we readers get a visceral sense of the resourcefulness, resilience and capacity for growth of Russian women in circumstances and conditions most Americans in 1993 wouldn't imagine let alone experience.  It is through the "druzhba" Brooke develops with two women, Svetlana and Olga, that her Jewish identity and Holocaust legacy are nuanced and ultimately defined.  And while the subject matter is disturbing, Talia Carner's elegant prose ushers us gracefully and tenderly through the most intimate thoughts and spaces these women occupy.  We are with this troika through their journey in and out of the euphoria that was the end of communism, the injustice of phantom anti-Semitism and the hazards of one-size-fits-all feminism. 

A "hotel" is a place of temporary lodging while on an expedition and HOTEL MOSCOW is aptly entitled.  For a time, Brooke Fielding and her Russian compatriots experienced the city of Moscow in which, arguably, all things magnificently and distinctly Russian are contained and most pronounced - like the set of matryoshka nesting dolls Olga presents to Brooke.  "'I want you to have this, another heirloom.  We are all products of our mothers, and carry their joys and sorrows inside us.'"  The women depart their journey forever connected and each wiser and more worldly for one another's legacies.  As Brooke says to Olga, "'I cherish that matryoshka you gave me.  It reminds me of you.  Strong, nurturing, traditional.  Women as the keepers of old values.'  With mist in her eyes, she added, 'Feminine.'"

Whatever your approach to matters of faith and feminism, pasts and futures, friendship and family, security and identity, HOTEL MOSCOW is jewel whose facets will throw light on your most personal reflections.

Take the Next 90 Seconds to Consider Your Safety, Security and Use of Social Media in a Crisis Situation

On the heels of the terrorist attack in London and the excellent piece, Think Before You Tweet in the Wake of an Attack at www.Wired.com, the words of Bo Mitchell, President of 911 Consulting and Former Police Commissioner in Wilton, Connecticut, are echoing in my head.  If you manage a facility, department or business, or if you work or recreate in one, his counsel will resonate with you and may well help you save your own life and the lives of others in an active shooter scenario, terrorist attack or natural disaster.  Here is an excerpt of my recent interview with him: 

 



To see more of Lisa Bernard's interview with Bo Mitchell visit www.SecuriITyBriefs.Blogspot.com.  To host Bo Mitchell at your next conference, telephone Lisa Bernard at (203) 293-4741 or email  LisaBernard@SecuritySpeak.net.

Lights, Camera, Action: Two Angles on Vladimir Putin this Sunday, June 4, 2017, 7:00 p.m. E.T.



Photo Credit from StopFake.org

Heads up TV journalism fans and those concerned with American and Russian politics and relations. I urge you to view two broadcasts airing, ironically, in the same time slot on Sunday evening, June 4, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.  ET.  One is the venerable 60 Minutes (CBS) on which a story about the “mysterious attacks on the lives of Russian activists” will lead.  The other is Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly, (NBC), the premier episode, featuring the stalwart Megyn Kelly’s interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  As an American Independent (politically speaking) and a disciple of Realpolitik—particularly where Soviet-turned -Russian rulers are concerned—I  expect that the veneer of Vladimir Putin’s carefully constructed image and well-orchestrated public persona will be unglued before us on two fronts.   We as a nation need clarity on him, his means and his objectives in order to assess our own vulnerabilities and possibilities at this critical time in our still very young democracy’s trajectory. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/putin-critic-says-hes-one-of-the-lucky-ones-im-still-here/
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/sunday-megyn-kelly-s-one-on-one-with-russian-president-vladimir-putin-959185475684

The Russians Are Coming? The Russians Are Coming!

 

To be sure, the reaction from people in and beyond Groton and New London, Connecticut to the sighting of a Russian spy vessel sitting thirty miles off their coast and the U.S. Naval Submarine Base last month spanned as wide as those in the Norman Jewison comedy film, The Russians are Coming!  The Russians are Coming! Locals voiced their concerns and opinions at a town meeting.  On Facebook, folks wondered if they should keep their children home from school.  Retired navy commanders, American submariners, CT lawmakers and elected officials calmed nerves and offered threat assessments and possibilities spanning the gamut from “this is nothing new” to “Putin is testing the resolve of the new American President” to “yet another Russian aggression.”  A resident of coastal Connecticut myself, I certainly noted the sighting and couldn’t shrug it off.  After musing about it with a colleague, I went to my local library for the DVD, The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!  Curiously enough, there was quite a wait list for the 1966 farce that parodies Cold War concerns.   

Days ago, just as my turn to rent the DVD came up, that same ship, the Viktor Leonov, was spotted twenty miles south of the U.S. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.   That’s when I reached out to Dr. Stephen J. Blank, internationally renowned authority on Russian military and foreign policies, for a better sense of Russia’s motives in sending this 300 foot-long ship with surveillance equipment that can intercept radar, radio and other electronic signals.  Unlike the guileless submarine crew in the comedy, The Russians are Coming! the Russians aboard the Viktor Leonov are not sneaking an irresistible and innocent “peek” at America with wide-eyed curiosity.  And “spying” seems too vague a term to be useful to describe what it really happening as this ship traverses our coast, albeit in international waters.  As ever, Dr. Blank’s informed analysis put it all in perspective and I share it with you here:

The appearance of the Russian vessel off the US submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia is not merely another example of Russian surveillance of our submarine capability or another attempt to send a psychological message that its subs can get within striking range of the continental United States.  Rather it is also part of an evolving strategy that appears to be intelligence and combat preparation for a possible contingency of a protracted war with the U.S. when Russian subs will have a mission of interdicting U.S. naval vessels and submarines en route to Europe and/or cutting communication cables with Europe.  If seen in tandem with recent military moves, these submarine sightings, aerial, and naval probes of the U.S. and our allies, suggests a mounting concern in Russia that it will have to fight a protracted war with NATO.  Indeed, the scope of Russia's comprehensive information warfare against the U.S. and Europe already indicates that Moscow deems itself to be in a "Cold War" type scenario with NATO.

Dr. Stephen J. Blank is available for talks, lectures and briefings through Lisa Bernard's SecuritySpeak, LLC.  (203) 293-4741.  LisaBernard@SecuritySpeak.net. 

 

 



9-1-1. What is Your Emergency ... Action Plan? Business Continuity Plan? Disaster Recovery Plan? An Interview with Bo Mitchell, President of 911 Consulting, Former Police Commissioner, Wilton, CT

Be it a flood, fire or medical emergency, active shooter or terrorist, when lives are at stake, stress levels rise and fear moves in.  We fear injury, loss of life, loss of livelihood, loss of our sense of security.  One man has made it his life’s mission to offer real and practical alternatives to panic and the potential for pandemonium and irrecoverable loss when disasters strike.  Bo Mitchell, President of 911 Consulting and former Police Commissioner of Wilton, Connecticut, offers CEOs, business-owners, managing partners, university presidents, and other heads of enterprises, the opportunity to minimize the risks associated with emergencies, manage them when they occur, communicate efficiently with those who need information and instruction, and bring things back to normal. 
 

  

“Amateurs talk strategy.  Professionals talk logistics.”  That distinction by General Omar N. Bradley echoed in my head as I listened to Bo Mitchell, arguably our nation’s leading private-sector emergency management professional.  In fact, from the cauldron of scary scenarios on the agenda when you speak with him, emerges a calm and reassuring sense of security as his expertise and devotion are revealed.  With twenty-one earned certifications in organizational safety and security, and an encyclopedic knowledge of safety laws, security protocols and emergency procedures, he addressed my followers’ concerns concisely and practically.  I was heartened by his refreshingly apolitical and holistic approach to crisis management.  His no-nonsense style and genial manner put a confident and human face on an otherwise unsettling subject.  I can see why he is called upon as an expert witness in landmark court cases.  It is not simply the depth and breadth of his thirty-plus years of experience in law enforcement, security management and emergency preparedness that makes Bo Mitchell an approachable and reliable leader in this industry.  It is his deep respect for human life and the organizations and reputations we build, his intellectual honesty and his deep regard for details.  He is a realist and a human being.  I hope these excerpts capture all that and offer you an entrée to what needs to be done for your employees, colleagues, customers and stakeholders.

BERNARD:  Since your retirement in 2001 as Commissioner of the Wilton Police Department, how has the nature or landscape of emergencies changed? 



BERNARD:  My blog followers are all around the world, but the majority of them are in and around the tri-state area in the U.S.  What keeps you up at night with regard to emergencies and disasters in our area?  

 


BERNARD:  Reviewing the literature, my impression is that conceptually, Emergency Action Plans, Emergency Management, Business Continuity Plans and Disaster Recovery Plans are overwhelming to think about.  But practically, approaching these plans is actually quite linear, logical and feasible.  Is that a fair assessment?  

BERNARD:  With less than ten per cent of companies in the U.S. having a designated Security Officer, who are the candidates for spearheading Emergency Action Plans and the like?
 

 

BERNARD:  Experts are in agreement that when a crisis occurs, communications must be centralized with one uniform message and one consistent “voice.”  With the proliferation of mobile devices and social media platforms, how can an outfit work to keep individuals in a crisis situation  from reporting updates themselves?

 
BERNARD:  What kind of employee makes a good candidate for spokesperson during a crisis?

 

BERNARD:  Regarding Business Continuity Plans, one thing my followers uniformly express is that they know they need a plan.  What can you share today that will give them the first step or two  towards initiating one?



BERNARD: In a presentation to JP Morgan Chase, you mentioned the substantial costs of litigation and the hefty fees companies pay out when disaster strikes and people are injured or die.  How does having OSHA and other compliant plans offset costs?  Is it because plans and training save lives and there are fewer lawsuits or grounds for litigation?

 

 

BERNARD: Bo Mitchell, I thank you for your service and for educating my clients and followers at Security Briefs on these critical safety and security matters.
 

Passcode: An Excellent Service from The Christian Science Monitor

Need an accessible, timely and reliable guide to security and privacy matters? Subscribe for free to The Christian Science Monitor's Passcode and receive it in your inbox three times a week. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Passcode. It's a user-friendly service featuring excellent journalists in the field who probe at the practical and big-picture levels. You'll feel like their reading your mind as they offer incisive pieces on exactly what concerns you about staying safe and protecting your privacy in the digital age.
 

A Sold-out and Successful CyberSalon ... For Ladies Only!

 

 



We couldn't have asked for a better start to 2017 at Lisa Bernard's SecuritySpeak!  At our first Dr. Robert L. Bernard Memorial Lecture, women from IT, financial services, and industry gathered to get their cyber-safety on - and they did!  With formal remarks followed by a workshop led by Ami Soifer, we dug into the science and systems behind hacking and then moved immediately to enhance our cyber-security as a practical matter.  Ami is the CEO of The TNS Group, a managed IT consulting firm based in Connecticut and serving firms in the Global 2000.  He is a world-class engineer of IT designs and considered by many to be one of the world's foremost secure application delivery experts.  Warm and personable, Ami engaged the group in his inimitable style from the get-go and then proceeded to bring the complexities of cyber-matters to practical levels.  We left the CyberSalon both feeling more secure as well as being more secure with regard to our online lives, devices and our and our clients' data.  Let this program be the first of many as Ami is prepared to bring his expertise to others in this forum.  At SecuritySpeak, we say that we "bring a human face to security matters."  Ami's CyberSalon... For Ladies Only has become the model for this mission.