With Regret - The Letters of Viktor Recel

Back Off Trump

Dear Mr. Trump,

I trust this letter finds you in your usual state of bluster and bravado. I am writing to you today to address a matter that has been causing me a considerable amount of annoyance. It appears that your associates have been reaching out to me, presumably at your behest, seeking my support.

I must tell you, Mr. Trump, that I find this both amusing and mildly irritating. Amusing because it is clear that you are too obtuse to recognize that I am not cut from the same cloth as your coterie of sycophants and yes-men. Irritating because I have better things to do with my time than entertain the overtures of your minions.

Now, I am not immune to the allure of graft. I am, after all, a businessman, and I understand the value of a well-placed bribe or a timely favor. I have, on occasion, greased the wheels of bureaucracy in various foreign lands, and I have no qualms about doing so. But let me be clear, Mr. Trump: I have no interest in doing business with you or your organization.

You see, Mr. Trump, I have a reputation to uphold. I am a man of discernment, a man who values intelligence and competence. And you, sir, are galactically stupid. Your lack of intellect is only surpassed by your lack of integrity, and I have no desire to be associated with you or your ilk.

Your circle of nincompoops, intellectual midgets, and washed-up, wet-brained cronies is a veritable circus of incompetence. I have no doubt that any association with them would result in nothing but trouble, and I simply do not have the time or the patience to deal with the inevitable fallout.

So, I would kindly ask you to cease and desist. Stop having your associates reach out to me. Stop trying to court my favor. I am not interested in your schemes or your machinations. I have no desire to be part of your circus.

In conclusion, Mr. Trump, I would advise you to focus your energies elsewhere. There are plenty of gullible fools out there who would be more than willing to dance to your tune. I, however, am not one of them.

With all due respect, Viktor Recel

An Open Letter on Ennui

To Whom It May Concern,

I find myself compelled to pen this letter, not out of any particular need or desire, but rather out of a sense of ennui that has been gnawing at me for some time. It is a feeling that I suspect many of my contemporaries share, though they may not admit it. We are, after all, a generation of men who have inherited the world from our fathers, and yet find ourselves ill-equipped to navigate its complexities.

My father, Dmitri Recel, was a man of his time. An industrial oligarch who rose to prominence in the chaotic aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, he was a titan in every sense of the word. He saw an opportunity in the untapped deposits of vantium, a rare and valuable metal found in the Ural Mountains, and seized it with both hands. His mining operations were highly profitable, and he quickly became one of the wealthiest men in Russia.

But my father was also a product of his generation, a generation of oligarchs who valued profit above all else. They exploited workers, disregarded environmental regulations, and pursued their own interests with a ruthless determination. They were, in many ways, the embodiment of the ruthless capitalism that has come to define our era.

As I reflect on my father's legacy, I find myself drawn to the works of the great Russian authors. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov - they all grappled with the complexities of human nature and the moral dilemmas that arise in a rapidly changing world. Their works resonate with me now more than ever, as I navigate my own moral dilemmas and grapple with the legacy of my father's generation.

I left Russia, my homeland, to become a jet-setting lout and tech titan. I traded the cold winters of Moscow for the sunny beaches of California, the harsh realities of the mining industry for the sleek, sanitized world of Silicon Valley. But in doing so, I find myself questioning my decisions. Have I, like my father, become a man of my time, a product of my generation? Have I traded one form of exploitation for another, one form of ruthlessness for another?

I find myself at a crossroads, torn between the world I left behind and the world I have embraced. I am a man out of time, a man out of place. I am a Russian oligarch in Silicon Valley, a tech titan with a miner's heart. I am, in many ways, a contradiction.

And yet, I am also a man with a choice. I can choose to follow in my father's footsteps, to embrace the ruthless capitalism that defined his generation. Or I can choose a different path, one that values people over profit, sustainability over exploitation, and integrity over success.

As I pen this letter, I am reminded of a quote from Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground": "I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea." Perhaps, in the end, that is the only certainty in this uncertain world - that we should always have our tea, even as the world goes to hell.

With Regret, Viktor Recel

Delphi Footwear Customer Service

Dear Customer Service,

I find myself compelled to write to you today, not out of any particular dissatisfaction with your products or services, but rather out of a sense of duty to my wife, a woman of such remarkable beauty and grace that she could make even the most hardened cynic believe in the divine.

My wife, you see, is not just any woman. She is a socialite, a force of nature, a woman who commands attention wherever she goes. Her beauty is not just skin-deep; it is a reflection of her intelligence, her wit, her charm. She is, in every sense of the word, extraordinary.

Now, I understand that your company prides itself on its footwear. You claim that your heels are the epitome of style and elegance, that they are designed to enhance the beauty of the women who wear them. But I must tell you, dear Customer Service, that your heels are unworthy to carry the incredible gravity of my wife.

You see, my wife is not just a woman; she is a goddess. She is Aphrodite, born from the sea foam, radiant and irresistible. She is Athena, wise and just, a beacon of reason in a world of chaos. She is Artemis, wild and free, a force of nature that cannot be tamed.

And your heels, dear Customer Service, are mere mortal creations. They are unworthy to carry the weight of my wife's divinity, unworthy to touch the ground that she walks on. They are, in short, inadequate.

Now, I do not write this letter to berate you or to demand a refund. I am, after all, a reasonable man. I understand that not every shoe can be worthy of a goddess. But I do hope that you will take my words to heart and strive to improve your products. Because every woman, whether she is a goddess or a mortal, deserves to wear shoes that are worthy of her.

With all due respect, Viktor Recel

A Matter of My Ex As Your New Mistress

Dear Father,

I trust this letter finds you in good health, or at least as good as can be expected for a man of your advanced years and questionable lifestyle choices. I write to you today not out of any particular desire for father-son bonding, but rather to address a matter that has recently come to my attention.

It has been brought to my notice that you have chosen to entertain yourself with my ex-girlfriend. Now, I understand that as a man of your stature and, let's say, moral flexibility, the concept of boundaries might be as foreign to you as humility or decency. However, even by your standards, this is a new low.

You have, in your infinite wisdom, decided to take up with a woman who was once dear to me. A woman who, despite our differences and eventual parting, I once held in high regard. But now, she is just another notch on your bedpost, another trophy in your collection of mistresses.

I must admit, I am not surprised. After all, you have always had a knack for making questionable decisions, a talent for turning gold into lead. But this, this is beyond the pale. This is not just an affront to me, but a testament to your utter lack of respect for anyone but yourself.

You have always been a man driven by your basest instincts, a man who values power and pleasure over love and respect. But this, this is a new level of depravity, even for you. You have not just crossed a line, you have obliterated it.

I would tell you that you should be ashamed of yourself, but I know that shame is a concept as alien to you as empathy or compassion. So instead, I will simply say this: I hope you find some semblance of happiness in your hollow, self-serving existence. Because at the end of the day, you are not just a disappointment to me, but a disgrace to the name we share.

With all the contempt I can muster, Viktor Recel

Consider Giving Up

Dear Marty,

I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. I recently had the, let's say, unique opportunity to peruse your latest literary endeavor, a self-help book that you asked me to review. I must admit, I approached it with a sense of curiosity, perhaps even a touch of optimism. After all, we have known each other for years, and I have always admired your tenacity, if not your judgment.

However, having now read your book, I find myself in a rather difficult position. You see, Marty, as a friend, I feel it is my duty to be honest with you, to provide you with the kind of constructive criticism that can only come from someone who truly has your best interests at heart. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you: your book did more harm than good.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that I feel stupider for having read it. Your book, Marty, is a veritable cornucopia of clichés, platitudes, and trite advice that would make even the most desperate self-help junkie cringe. It is a testament to the power of mediocrity, a monument to the art of saying a lot without actually saying anything at all.

Now, I understand that writing a book is no small feat. It requires time, effort, and a certain degree of intellectual rigor. But your book, Marty, lacks all three. It is a hodgepodge of half-baked ideas, poorly researched theories, and anecdotes that are about as enlightening as a candle in a hurricane.

But let's not dwell on the negatives. After all, every cloud has a silver lining, and even the most disastrous of endeavors can serve as a learning experience. And so, I would like to offer you some advice, some help, if you will, because it is clear to me that you are in desperate need of it.

Firstly, I would suggest that you consider giving up completely. Now, I know this may sound harsh, but hear me out. There is a certain dignity in knowing when to throw in the towel, in recognizing that perhaps writing is not your forte. You could move to Florida, take up golf, enjoy the simple pleasures of retirement. There is no shame in admitting defeat, Marty, especially when the alternative is to continue producing literary atrocities like your self-help book.

However, if the thought of giving up is too much to bear, then I would suggest a different approach. Consider starting over, Marty. Go back to the basics, learn the craft of writing from the ground up. Become an apprentice, if you will. You could even start with something as simple as a broom. After all, if you can master the art of sweeping, then perhaps there is hope for you yet.

In conclusion, Marty, I must say that your book was a disappointment. It was a missed opportunity, a failed attempt at providing meaningful advice to those in need. But do not despair, Marty. There is always room for improvement, always a chance for redemption. Whether you choose to give up or start over, I hope you find the help you so clearly need.

With all due respect, Viktor Recel